Page 23 of Sy (Alien Berserkers of Izaea #2)

23

H is mate was so beautiful. Sy’s throat tightened as Ashley laughed up at him, her joy hitting him like a punch to the chest. He’d never imagined he’d be lucky enough to get a mate of his own. With his Blood Rage and the fact the Lathar had no females… the odds had been more than stacked against it. Yet here she was, warm and real against him, her fingers intertwined with his as they moved to the music.

The reception pulsed with life around them, his people and hers sharing drinks and stories. He spun her, drinking in the way the lights caught the flush on her cheeks, the way her eyes sparked with mischief when she caught him staring.

Movement caught his eye. Zeke, of all people, was carrying a fresh drink to the human engineer, Michelle’s table. The warrior’s usual stern expression had softened into something almost gentle as he set the glass within easy reach of the human woman. The human’s broken leg might keep her from dancing, but from the way she was smiling up at Zeke, she didn’t seem to mind.

He caught Ashley’s eye and nodded toward the pair. A wicked little grin spread across her face and made his heart skip.

“What are you doing?” He tried to hold on to her, but she was already slipping away, that innocent expression on her face that always meant she was up to something.

“Nothing,” she said, her eyes dancing with barely contained mischief. “There’s just another human wedding tradition we need to carry out.”

The glint in her eye made him nervous. But before he could question her further, she was striding to the center of the dance floor, her blue dress swishing around her legs with her bouquet held high above her head.

Kraath appeared at his shoulder, his arms folded across his broad chest. “What’s going on?”

“I have no idea,” Sy admitted, watching as the humans in the crowd began to stir with recognition. Whatever this tradition was, they clearly knew what was coming. The energy in the room shifted, excitement crackling through the air like static before a storm.

Ashley’s voice boomed across the reception area. “Ladies, are you ready?”

The answering roar from the human women made several Izaean warriors jump, their hands twitching toward weapons they weren’t carrying. Sy couldn’t blame them; the sudden surge of feminine battle cries was startling. The humans began banging on tables, creating a thunderous rhythm that had Ashley bouncing on her toes.

She turned her back to the crowd, and he watched in fascination as she began what appeared to be some sort of ritual dance… bending her knees and lifting the bouquet in what looked like practice throws. The humans’ response grew louder each time she dipped, their anticipation building with whistles and cheers that echoed off the stone walls.

“Perhaps this is a human fertility rite?” Kraath’s frown deepened. “Mimicking the act of copulation… But I’m not entirely sure what the bouquet has to do with it. Perhaps a traditional human bouquet contains herbs that aid fertility?”

Sy had to bite back a laugh at the serious commander’s attempt to apply logical analysis to what was clearly pure human… chaos. Around them, Izaeans watched with a mixture of bewilderment and fascination as the human females in the room worked themselves into a frenzy of excitement.

Ashley’s performance grew more dramatic with each practice swing. She’d throw her head back, laughing, and then dip down again, the bouquet arcing through the air in mock throws that had the waiting women surging forward before falling back in waves of anticipation. The humans seemed to know this dance well, responding to each fake-out with groans of protest and laughing demands to “throw it already!”

Even Michelle had forgotten her usual dignity, leaning forward in her chair with an intensity that made Zeke hover closer. The warrior’s protective instincts were clearly warring with his confusion about why his charge was suddenly so invested in a bundle of flowers.

On Ashley’s third wind-up, something changed. Sy felt it in the sudden hush that fell over the crowd, saw it in the way the human women’s bodies tensed like hunters spotting prey. This was it. His mate’s body coiled, and then with a movement far more graceful than her practice swings, she sent the bouquet sailing high into the air.

Time slowed as the flowers arced overhead, spinning lazily through the reception hall’s lights. He tracked its trajectory with military precision and realized with sudden clarity that it was heading straight for?—

“Watch out!”

Zeke blinked at the incoming projectile, obviously calculating whether he should catch it or dodge. His momentary hesitation proved costly. Michelle erupted from her chair, broken leg and all, and snatched the bouquet right in front of his chest. Her triumphant bellow echoed around the hall as she thrust her prize into the air for all to see.

The humans exploded into chaos. Women who’d been poised to catch the bouquet themselves were now rushing Michelle, screaming congratulations.

Zeke stood frozen, one hand still half-raised, staring at Michelle with an expression that suggested he’d just witnessed either a miracle or a catastrophe—possibly both.

Kraath’s mouth fell open. “Did she just—with a broken leg?” For once, the tactical master seemed to have run out of analysis.

Ashley slipped back to Sy’s side, nestling against him with that satisfied little wiggle she did when she was happy. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “What was that all about?”

She grinned up at him, her face flushed with success. “The person who catches the bouquet at a wedding will be the next one to get married.”

Kraath’s brow furrowed deeper. “That makes no sense. It doesn’t account for established relationships or any other factors than luck as well as the weight and trajectory of the bouquet.”

“It’s all down to luck,” Ashley said with a wink, already tugging at Sy’s hand and dragging him into the center of the room. “Come on, let’s dance.”

He pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on her head as they swayed together. The reception continued to buzz around them, but his focus had narrowed to the warm weight of his mate against his chest. Still, his mind churned over the events, remembering the perfect arc of that throw. Weight… trajectory…

“You meant to hit Zeke. Didn’t you?”

“Yep.”

“But you knew Michelle would grab it. Didn’t you?”

“Abso-fucking-lutely.”

She looked up at him, and her grin was pure mischief. “What good is being the bride if you can’t matchmake for your friends?”

He chuckled and kissed her temple, breathing in her scent. “You, mate of mine, are an absolute terror. But you’re my terror.”

She sighed, and he heard all her contentment in that single sound. “And don’t you forget it.”

Ashley’s heart stuttered as Sy opened the door to their quarters, his large hand wrapped around hers to pull her through the door with him.

Their quarters.

The thought still made her breath catch, but then she gasped at the sight before her. Warm candlelight danced across the walls, casting golden shadows that transformed the utilitarian space into something magical. Rose petals scattered the white sheets on the bed, and more candles lined every surface, their flames steady in the still air.

“Oh, Sy,” she whispered, overwhelmed as tears pricked at her eyes. She hadn’t expected this, hadn’t imagined he would do something so tender, so romantic.

When she turned to face him, the look in his eyes stole what little breath she had left. Desire and uncertainty warred in his expression, as if he wasn’t sure he’d done the right thing. As if he could ever be wrong about this. Words failed her completely then, inadequate to express the surge of emotion that welled up in her chest.

So she showed him instead.

She grabbed his shirt front and pulled him down to her, crushing her mouth against his. His surprised grunt melted into a groan as she pressed herself against him, trying to pour everything she couldn’t say into the kiss. His arms came around her instantly, one hand splaying across her lower back while the other tangled in her hair.

The kiss deepened and turned hungry. Her fingers curled tighter in his shirt as his tongue swept into her mouth, tasting of the wine they’d shared at dinner and something uniquely him. Heat bloomed low in her belly, spreading outward until her skin felt too tight, too sensitive. She needed more—needed all of him.

His hands slid down her sides, and she arched into his touch, desperate to feel more of him. Her fingers trembled with need and impatience as she fumbled with the buttons of his shirt.

One button. Then the second. And the third. Each revealed inch of skin was a victory, a treasure she couldn’t resist touching.

He broke the kiss to trail his lips down her neck, and her head fell back with a gasp. The scrape of his teeth against her pulse point sent electricity dancing across her skin. His breath came hot and fast against her throat as his hands found the zipper of her dress.

“Please,” she whispered, though she wasn’t sure what exactly she was begging for. Everything. Anything. Just more.

The zipper’s descent felt endless. Cool air kissed her spine as the fabric parted, but his hands were there immediately, warm and callused, mapping every inch of newly exposed skin. She shivered, both from the contrast in temperature and the reverence in his touch. She finally managed to push his shirt off his shoulders, and he had to release her long enough to shrug out of it completely.

The separation, brief as it was, felt like torture. She stepped out of her dress, letting it pool at her feet. The candlelight played across his broad chest, highlighting the strong planes of muscle and casting shadows in the valleys between.

Her mouth went dry at the sight of him.

He was beautiful—all power and grace, and somehow, impossibly, hers.

Their eyes met, and the naked lust in his gaze stole her breath. She reached for him at the same time he moved toward her, their bodies colliding with enough force to drive the air from her lungs. His skin burned against hers. She couldn’t get close enough, couldn’t satisfy the ache building inside her.

They stumbled backward together, neither willing to break contact. Rose petals scattered beneath their feet, releasing their sweet perfume into the air. Her hands roamed over his back, feeling the play of muscles as he moved. His mouth found that sensitive spot behind her ear that made her knees weak, and she clutched at his shoulders to stay upright.

His hands slid lower, cupping her ass and pulling her tightly against him. The hard length of him pressed against her stomach, and she moaned at the evidence of his desire. She rocked against him instinctively, drawing a growled curse from his throat that vibrated against her skin.

The backs of her legs hit the bed, and she went down willingly, pulling him with her. Rose petals flew up around them, settling back down like crimson rain. Some stuck to their sweat-dampened skin, and she watched, mesmerized, as one clung to his shoulder.

He braced himself above her, and they stared at each other for a moment. The candlelight caught in his eyes, turning them to liquid gold, full of heat and promise. She traced the line of his jaw, marveling at how this powerful man trembled at her touch. His control was visible in the tension of his muscles, in the way his arms shook slightly as he held himself above her.

Sliding her other hand down his chest, she felt his heavy heartbeat beneath her palm. Their remaining clothes felt like an unbearable barrier between them. She hooked her fingers into the waistband of his pants, impatient to feel his skin against hers. His breath hitched, and he captured her mouth in another searing kiss that left her dizzy and desperate for more.

They worked together to remove the last of their clothing, their movements growing more frantic with each passing second. Every brush of skin against skin was electric. Each touch stoked the fire between them. The air was punctuated by their harsh breathing and the soft sounds of pleasure neither could contain.

He pulled back, and she pouted at the loss of contact until she saw his face. The naked emotion there stole her breath. He studied her as if memorizing every detail, his hand trembling as he brushed her hair back from her face.

“I never thought—” his voice caught, rough with emotion. “I never thought I’d be lucky enough to get a mate.” His thumb traced across the curve of her cheek, feather-light. “Never mind one as beautiful as you.”

The raw honesty in his voice made her eyes burn with unshed tears. She reached up to cup his face, drawing her thumb across his lower lip.

How could he not see how remarkable he was? How could he not know that she was the lucky one? Words felt inadequate to express the depth of emotion swelling in her chest, so she pulled him down to her instead, pouring everything she couldn’t say into a kiss that started gentle but quickly blazed into something more.

His confession had changed something between them, turned their desperate passion into something deeper, more profound. Every touch felt like a promise, every kiss a vow. She arched up against him, needing to be closer, needing him to understand through her touch what she couldn’t express in words. The weight of him above her, the heat of his skin against hers, the way his hands shook slightly as they mapped her body —it all combined into a perfect moment of connection that went far beyond the physical.

She hooked her leg around his, pulling him against her with desperate need. Her slick wetness coated his length as he rocked against her, making her whimper with anticipation.

Then he fitted himself against her, and when he finally pushed inside, the stretch and fullness drew a deep moan from her throat. Her inner walls clenched around him, adjusting to his considerable size as he sank deeper with each careful thrust until he was fully seated within her.

“Fuck,” she gasped, her nails raking down his back as pleasure sparked through her body. Every slight movement sent shockwaves of sensation coursing through her. His thick cock hit a spot inside her that made her back arch and pleasure cascade through her. When he started to move in earnest, she couldn’t hold back her cries.

He set a demanding pace, one that had her clinging to his shoulders, her hips rising to meet each powerful thrust. The sound of skin against skin filled the room, punctuated by their shared groans and gasps. Her breasts bounced with each impact until he captured one peaked nipple in his mouth, sucking hard enough to make her arch off the bed.

“More,” she begged, her heel digging into his ass to urge him deeper.

“Harder, please—” Her words dissolved into a cry as he complied, driving into her with an intensity that had the headboard slamming against the wall. Each thrust sent sparks of pleasure shooting through her, building a hard tension low in her belly between her thighs where they were joined.

Shifting his weight to one arm, his other hand slid between them to find her clit. The first brush of his fingers against the sensitive bundle of nerves made her whole body jerk.

“Yes,” she hissed, grinding against his touch as he worked her with practiced circles. The dual sensation of his thick length stretching her while his fingers played with her clit was almost too much to bear.

Her inner muscles clenched around him as the pressure built. She bit her lip. So close… almost there.

He shifted slightly, changing the angle, and suddenly he was hitting that perfect spot with every…single…thrust. Each stroke sent jolts of pleasure straight to her core.

“You feel so good,” he growled against her neck, his breath hot on her skin. “So tight, so wet for me.”

His words and a particularly deep thrust drew a keening moan from her throat. He throbbed inside her, his cock growing impossibly harder.

She threw her head back. Her thighs trembled as her whole body tightened in anticipation. She felt herself getting wetter and slicker, her arousal coating them both as he maintained his relentless pace.

His fingers drew tight, fast circles on her clit, making her see stars. The combination of his thick cock filling her completely and his skilled fingers working her sensitive flesh was too much. She started to come undone, her body trembling on the precipice of release.

The tension coiling inside her…

Snapped.

She screamed his name as waves of pleasure crashed through her. Her inner walls clamped down hard around his length as she came. And came. And came. Each contraction seemed to pull him deeper, intensifying the sensation until she could barely breathe through the pleasure of it.

His thrusts grew erratic, his control finally breaking as her body milked his cock. His fingers dug into her hip hard enough to leave marks as he drove into her with desperate intensity. The sound of flesh meeting flesh echoed through the room, punctuated by their shared moans and gasps. She was still coming, aftershocks rippling through her when she felt him swell even larger inside her.

“Ashley! Draanth …”

He slammed into her one final time, burying himself to the hilt as his release hit. She felt the hot pulse as he filled her, triggering another wave of pleasure that had her arching beneath him.

Her body squeezed around him instinctively, drawing out his orgasm as he shuddered above her. The feeling of him coming inside her, marking her as his, sent another aftershock of pleasure coursing through her sensitized body.

They stayed locked together, both trembling in the aftermath of their shared release. His forehead pressed against hers, their ragged breathing mingling in the scant space between them. She felt his heart thundering against her chest, matching the rapid pace of hers. His cock twitched deep inside her with occasional aftershocks, making her inner walls flutter in response.

When he finally tried to move, to take his weight off her, she wrapped her legs tighter around him, keeping him close.

“No. Stay,” she whispered against his lips. She wasn’t ready to lose the feeling of fullness, of completion that came from having him inside her. He obeyed, shifting just enough to avoid crushing her while holding her close.

Sweat cooled on their skin as their breathing gradually steadied. The candlelight had burned lower, casting long shadows across his shoulders and highlighting the marks her nails had left on his skin.

She felt their combined releases starting to seep out around where they were still joined, evidence of their passion trickling down her inner thigh. The sensation should have been uncomfortable, but instead it sent a fresh wave of arousal through her. Her inner muscles clenched involuntarily around his softening length, drawing a groan from both of them.

“That was…” His voice was rough, trailing off as words failed him. He pressed soft kisses along her jaw and down her neck.

She hummed in agreement, running her fingers through his sweat-dampened hair. Every slight movement caused tiny sparks of pleasure to dance through her oversensitive body. She could already feel him beginning to harden again inside her, and the thought of taking him like this, when she was still wet and open from their first round, made her breath catch.

“Again?” she asked, rolling her hips experimentally. The motion drew a sharp intake of breath from him, his hands tightening on her skin.

His answer was to capture her mouth in a searing kiss that promised they were far from finished. She smiled against his lips, knowing that this night—their first as a bonded couple—was just the beginning of their happily ever after.