Page 12 of Veras (Nozaroc Alien Warrior #2)

I t took ten minutes tops before we hopped on a levitating platform, moved beyond the forcefield, and floated out into the jungle.

“The outpost curves with the shape of the mountains. In a semicircle. Most predators stay low, like the arbeluc . It has wings but can only coast over the ground.” He hugged me tightly. “We are safe, high above the trees. It is easier to exit the facility and cut across. And faster.”

The view was exquisite up here, gazing down at the multi-colored vegetation.

I wanted to reach out when I heard the soft whistles of neon teal, bird-like creatures with eight wings.

They reminded me of the animals caged in the arena.

It hurt my heart to think of the ones still imprisoned, and it made me determined to change Veras’ mind.

There were so many creatures that needed our help.

“How can this place even exist? Where does the water come from? And wait, there’s no sunshine.

Don’t your plants use photosynthesis?” I asked, leaning dangerously over the platform, trying to take everything in.

Also, not completely convinced those vicious arbeluc thingies couldn’t fly this high. “Where are we exactly?”

“We are deep below the mountains but nowhere near as deep as where my people resided. They lived in the core of the planet where the Oro comes from.” He tightened his arms around my waist. “This place uses groundwater from the surface that flows into intricate ravines and rivers. As for the sun, no, it does not shine here. It is too strong and would wither and kill most of the plant life. The Oro supplies what they need.”

“Did your people create this place?”

“The outpost, yes. The rest, no. It’s all part of the magic of Nozaroc. The Guardians allow us here because we respect this ecosystem. The Aavvee that populate the surface will soon learn their actions will not be tolerated.”

“But you can stop the Guardians?”

“Even if I wanted to go against everything my people stood for, the agreement we made with Nozaroc would only buy us time. The Guardians will not allow this raping of the land, the destruction of the precious Oro which is the lifeblood of this planet. The Aavvee will be eradicated eventually.”

My mind raced. But if we could take care of the Aavvee before the Guardians, then we could stay? Here. “How much time are we talking?’

“Not enough,” he snapped. Clearly, my emotional alien felt deeply annoyed by my questions. Or maybe the pain and loss were too much.

But I didn’t have time to coddle him. I went straight into boss mode, the same way I had planned to do on Earth as a future CEO. “ Exactly how long would the Guardians give us to handle the problem?”

“Us? Handle it? What my people couldn’t achieve, you and I will accomplish?” He placed his hands on his waist, his thumbs tapping away in agitation. “We would only have sonas at most.”

“What is that in human years?”

He canted his head back and forth, to where his ears almost hit his shoulders. “Two hundred years only.”

“ Two hundred ? That’s amazing! And plenty of time.” My mind raced at the possibilities. Poisons, nuclear attacks, an Oro bomb? We could totally find a way to get rid of the Aavvee.

“That is a drop in my lifetime.”

“Well, that many years is more than I could hope for. I never knew if I’d make it to tomorrow. Plus, I’m in my twenties. I would be lucky to make it another fifty years on Earth. If I can’t go home, I want to live down here. Away from the Aavvee. Where it’s safe.”

“You only live to seventy years ?” He hugged me from behind, almost knocking us off the platform.

His arms and spikes descended, sealing me to his chest. “That is so short. I’m so sorry, my beautiful Earther.

So fragile, so small, so soft… so delicate,” he whispered my faults like a chant as we whizzed through the forest, a band of cute monkey-like animals hooting at us as we whizzed by.

Veras smelled so good. It heightened the pleasure of his embrace.

I enjoyed the touch. Craved it. But amidst the haze, I sensed something else.

He’d dismissed my plans, yet I felt his concern and held him tight as his heart raced.

I smoothed my hands over his arms, wondering just how long he could live.

Sadness kept me from asking the question because his determination to pretty much murder everyone, or allow the Guardians to do it, battered at me as we silently whizzed by.

Eventually, we passed through another buttery forcefield and entered the laboratory section of the outpost. Room after room was packed with alien-looking supplies and technology.

We eventually stopped in a section that resembled a bunker, with winding tunnels and hundreds of doors.

It should have been creepy, but after living in a cave for five years, not much spooked me anymore.

We exited, and I pried Veras’ arms off me so we could walk by his side. He held my hand and took me down a passageway cut out of the mountain. Golden vines lit the way. The place really incorporated the natural with the technological.

Passing through another forcefield, I noticed the golden tattoo on his arm lit up as we walked in.

He narrowed his eyes and bared his teeth, showing his sharp canines.

I reared back, but I felt his joy. Had he just smiled at me?

“My little General. Always strategizing.” He walked down into a larger room, strangely blank, all a monochrome milky-white color. “I will take care of you. Do not worry.”

I was being dismissed, and I hated it. I purposely turned away and pulled my hand out of his. See how he liked it.

He stood in front of me, blocking me from walking farther. “Look at me. I-I don’t do well when you are cut off from me.”

“Too bad.” But this time, I stared him in the eye and wanted him to feel my fury at being overlooked.

“I’m sorry, little one. I don’t mean to dismiss you.

I’ve gotten used to doing things on my own.

But since you’ve entered my life, you’ve made it so much brighter.

I love the buzz of your mind, your complex emotions, your shouty thoughts.

I want them all! Don’t deny me.” He stepped closer and enveloped me in his arms. When I didn’t respond, he rained kisses down my face and throat. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“You’re about to find out, pendejo ! I’m trying to help us…” My words trailed off when he fell to his knees in front of me, pressing fervent kisses on my breasts and stomach.

He tore open a hole in my pants. Before I could say a word, he swiped his tongue over my soaked entrance, and I screamed. The heat, the Oro, the slow glide of his thick tongue made me insane. Over and over, he lapped at me until I couldn’t stand it.

He was so intense. I had to admit, I loved it. I’d never felt so wanted, so adored. At least physically. But I let the anger guide the passion, fueling my need. We had so little time together.

“Take me. Hard. Fuck me, Veras. Now!” I grasped his face and sealed my mouth to his, groaning as I tasted him as well as my essence smeared on his tongue. “I want you.”

“Yes! You are mine. Always mine!” His pants were shredded and discarded in seconds, and he had my legs around his waist. Vinny was buzzing and slapping against my entrance, and Veras thrust, his fat cock stalling about halfway through.

“Again!” I gripped his shoulder and thrust against him.

Veras took the initiative and slammed my back against one of the smooth walls, jacking up his hips, harder and faster, until he stuffed his way inside.

I screamed when he started to vibrate, my inner walls contracting around him. I came and came… floating in bliss.

“I feel you. So tight. So good!” He pounded against me, licking my neck, sucking on my ear, even licking my face.

I didn’t care. I loved it. All of it. I rode my orgasm until I heard him groan.

“Can’t live without you. I can’t!” Veras roared his release and swirled his hard dick inside of me, the motion intensifying and extending my orgasm. We shared our pleasure, our minds fully connected for a brief moment. His pain and desperation swamped me, intensifying my sadness.

He said he couldn’t live without me, yet wouldn’t help me keep us together.