Page 3 of Rix & Val (Cosmic Crowns MC #2)

I ’m in the shadows when they first arrive. My favourite place. Vena doesn’t mind that I prefer to stay out of sight. I think she prefers it because we often tag-team, and it surprises the unruly clients when I appear from the shadows.

We hear them before we see them. The rumble of their bikes is loud when most don’t use motorised transport.

The closer they come, the louder the noise and the more the vibrations run through me.

I can feel them deep in my belly. It isn’t a bad feeling.

I’d love to ride one. Maybe Kragor will take me for a ride on his.

As they ride up to the tavern, the air seems to become electrified, making the small hairs on my arms and the back of my neck stand up.

Slipping further into the shadows, I watch them.

Five males laughing and joking as they dismount from their beasts of machines.

You can see from the way they act together that they’ve known each other for a long time.

There’s respect, but also teasing, and brotherhood like I’ve never seen before.

There are five, but only one holds my attention.

He isn’t as muscular or as tall as the other males.

Though less bulky than his friends, there’s a sinewy strength to his lean frame.

A shiver runs through me and, as if I’m under some compulsion, I step out into the light.

Going still as soon as his gaze finds me, holding me in place as if by an invisible force.

I’m not sure what the feeling is that’s running through me, and I’m not sure if I like it.

The largest male, the one I assume is the leader, approaches Vena. But my male… ‘My male… What?! Since when do I have a male?’

My grip tightens on my staff. I’m not sure what to make of the thoughts running through my head. This has never happened to me. It’s a completely unfamiliar feeling, and again, I’m not sure if I like it or not.

His eyes flash silver for a minute before he banks them. I’m glad that he has control of his emotions because in that one split second, I know this male can be dangerous if he chooses to be.

He stalks towards me, and I’m surprised by the gentleness in his tone or how he even knows that I’ve been hurt when he asks, “Who hurt you, a stór? ”

I’m not sure what’s given me away. I can’t help but be honest when I answer his question, somehow knowing deep down that he’ll know if I’m lying to him. “Too many to count,” I tell him.

He takes one step closer, cupping my cheek, and I’m again surprised by the need that fills me to rub my cheek against him.

If I had half the chance, I’d rub my entire body all over his so that he’ll smell of me and only of me.

The possessiveness that fills me when it comes to this male takes me by surprise, and it takes a little while for his next words to register.

I can’t help the sadness that fills me because I know that even though he means every word he utters when he promises to protect me, unfortunately, I’ve learned over the years that nobody can protect me from everything, not even me.

That doesn’t mean that I don’t appreciate him offering.

I’ve never had one treat me as gently as he has in the last five minutes.

My heart beats faster and my breath hitches when he whispers, “But none of them were your mate,” he says something about a berserker, but I’ve given up listening as shock fills me as soon as he mentions the word mate.

I’ve never heard of a slave having one. Oh, we were used for breeding but never for mating.

I’ve heard of mates and thought they were some fairytale told to children to give them hope.

But my incisors lengthen and my mouth waters to taste him.

To bite him.

To mark him as mine.

And as his exotic scent fills my nose with a delicious scent, I have to cover my mouth to stop from doing just that. My pussy pulses, needing to be filled, and my clit throbs. All this without even knowing his name, only realising this when he asks me for mine. “What’s your name, milseán? ”

My name rolls off my tongue without hesitation. It’s almost as if I have a compulsion to tell him everything. “Valoria, but my friends call me Val.”

“Valoria.” The way he says it has me clenching my thighs together.

I wish I could ask the girls what all this meant.

I’d never had a visceral reaction like this, making me wonder if he was right and we’re mates.

It’s the only explanation I can think of.

I need to get my head back in the game and stop fantasising about all the ways I can mark this male and make him mine.

Sex terrifies me, so why am I all but climbing all over him?

These feelings are making me a little antsy.

My male is talking again so I listen. And a rush of happiness floods me when he says, “I like it. It’s beautiful like its owner.

My name’s Xanderix, but my brothers call me Rix. ”

‘Rix.’ His name tumbles through my head over and over. I love it. It suits him.

Leaning in, he runs his nose up my cheek, and I tilt my head with a soft sigh, offering myself up to him, shivering a little with the feelings running through me as if every nerve edge is exposed.

And then he asks. He doesn’t demand. Doesn’t just take.

He asks me to give him something that I’ve never given anyone else.

“Can I kiss you?”

“Please,” I utter, as a shudder runs through me at my bravery.

He takes it as permission, which it is. But it’s also what I don’t have the courage to say.

It’s also a please don’t break my trust. And a please don’t hurt me.

Where I expected hardness, all I get is softness, and I melt into him as he presses soft kisses across my cheeks and lips until he finally claims my lips, encouraging me to open for him.

I’ve never felt anything like this. My nipples peak and my pussy floods with heat.

Taking my lead from him, I give him my tongue, and he must enjoy that from the rumble that rises from deep within him.

When he cups my ass with his big hands, I jump, needing to be closer, and wrap my legs around his waist. If Vena hadn’t interrupted us, I might have let him mount me there and then against the wall.

“Come home with me?” he asks me.

My hesitation is only for a minute. I know deep in my heart that I’ll be going home with him, and I’ll allow him possession of my body.

He’ll be the first that I’ll give it to willingly.

And I want that. I want to give myself to someone I trust, and I instinctively know that I can trust him with all of me.

He may be the first male and last male that I ever trust. It isn’t a simple decision for me to make, and he waits patiently while I do.

Only when I agree with a hesitant, “Okay,” does he move.

I have to stop and check with Vena, though. It isn’t in me to shirk my duties, but she just waves me on.

And then she does something that nobody in my entire living life has done for me. Me! An ex-slave! She threatens the male, who is determined to make me his. My heart’s filled to bursting, and I know she’ll forever be my sister, just with those few words. I hold her gaze so that she knows.

Vena and I aren’t ones for showing our emotions, unlike Suki, who’s effusive with her affection. But a lot can be said with just a glance. I know she knows what I mean as our gazes catch and hold. She gives me a subtle head tilt.

Rix gets on his bike and starts it up. The rumble vibrates through me, and I’m eager to see what it’s like to ride on one. Taking the hand he holds out to me, I climb on behind him, wrapping my arms around him as he takes off down the road. The ride thrills me, and I wish we could ride forever.

But not even twenty minutes later, we’re riding through a gate and parking in a designated spot. I’m surprised to see Vex’s bike already here. Dismounting, I wait for Rix. I inhale sharply, my eyebrows shooting up in surprise as I catch the faint scent of Suki.

Then all thoughts of Suki leave me as my male swings me up in his arms, burying his nose in my neck.

Tilting it so he has better access, I’m gratified when he rumbles, “Love the way you smell, milseán . Can’t wait to bury my face in your delicious cunt and have you all over my face. I can smell your need from here.”

Embarrassment floods through me, and I tuck my head into his shoulder.

“Don’t hide from me, a ghrá , I love that you want me, and I promise you aren’t the only one. I’ve been hard since I saw you standing in the light against the tavern wall.”

Tilting my head back, I peek up at him to find him being serious.

He jogs up the steps with me as if I weigh nothing and pushes open the door—right into a room that is full of strange males.

Immediately, I tense in his arms as memories assail me, and I wonder if this is it.

The moment my trust is broken yet again.

Rix tightens his grip on me and murmurs softly enough that only I can hear him, “It’s okay, milseán . I told you. You’re safe with me.”

He doesn’t stop except to nod to a few of the males that call out greetings before he stalks down a passage with doors on either side.

He comes to a stop near the second one, unlocking it, and walks me inside.

Only when we’re in the room does he put me down, slowly sliding me down his body so that I get to feel every inch of his hardness. He’s not hiding how much he wants me.

It’s a heady feeling for someone such as me. I’m both terrified and elated at the mere thought of going ahead with allowing this male access to my body.

And although I’m terrified of doing this, I also know that he’s the only male I’ll ever trust to take this next step with. There’s something about him that has me trusting him.

When my feet touch the floor, I gather my courage and my leather tunic in my hands and ease it off my body and over my head.

Rix lets out a hoarse moan, and when I look up through my lashes, he’s biting one of his fists, his eyes on my breasts.

They aren’t the biggest, barely more than a handful.

When all I see is heat, lust, and tenderness in his gaze, it gives me the courage to untie my boots and step out of them before I push my trousers down and off my hips.

Stepping out of them as soon as they are on the bedroom floor, and I’m then standing naked in front of my male.

“Fecking hell, milseán . You’re gorgeous.” Rix reaches out a finger and runs it around my nipple. It peeks and aches just from that small touch. Biting my lip, I hold back a whimper.

“I’m going to take such good care of you, baby.

I know you’re scared, but I promise I’ll do everything I can to make this special for you,” Rix assures me.

Picking me up, he lays me on the bed before stepping back and giving me the show of a lifetime as he strips out of his clothing, but not before hanging his leather cut on the back of the door.

And what a striptease it is. For the first time, I am looking forward to sex. Who wouldn’t? This male has shown me more care in the last few hours than any other being, except my sisters and Raz and Luc.

Pushing away the small bit of pain that flashes through me at the thought of the boys. Instead, I opt to focus on the male stalking towards me, cocks… to all that’s holy… he’s got cocks.

Rising on my elbows to get a better look. Yes, cocks for sure.

Gulping, I wonder how this is going to work. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I know the basics and, of course, I’ve got the right number of holes for both cocks to fill. Whereas I was ready before and brave enough to go through with this. Now… I’m not so sure.