Ensnared Bride Read online

  “Do you remember my first rule for you?”

  She swallowed. “Not to lie.”

  “Yes.” His yellow eyes penetrated her own. “Now tell me what happened the day the bomb went off in the slave bunker.”

  She nodded. “I wanted to tell you right from the beginning. No one believed anything I said. They wouldn’t let me talk.”

  “I’m letting you.”

  She drew a deep breath. “I knew some visitors were coming because Ducra told us to clean up our areas. I didn’t really pay much attention though. I just had to make my quota. Then, on the day the bomb exploded, I woke up and these green aliens with stretched out faces were hovering around me. They were chattering to each other and just staring at me.”

  “What did they say to you, Monica?”

  A dent formed between her brows. He still thinks I was in on it.

  “They told me they were going to lick me.”

  He became confused. “Lick you?”

  She gestured with a turned up hand. “Yes. And that’s what one of them did. This big long tongue fell out of its mouth and—”

  “A big tongue? How long?”

  She indicated a foot and a half with her hands.

  “What color was it? The tongue.”

  Monica concentrated a moment. “Like, mauve?”

  He looked away as though struck by something.

  “So then you arrived and they went away with you. And then later, I guess when your meeting was over, they came back and said I had to deliver their gift to you because it was against their customs to do it themselves.”

  Javintore leaned forward and scrubbed his hand over his face. She hoped he didn’t think she was lying.

  “So they gave me that egg thing and told me to bring it to you. I didn’t want to. They said if I didn’t they would tell Ducra and I’d get in trouble. So I just did what they told me. I didn’t know it was a bomb. It looked like a glass egg, like a real gift. I had no idea, Javintore. I swear I didn’t.”

  He reached over to collect her hand. “I believe you.”

  She gave a heaving sigh of relief.

  “It was the Deekitee-ans. Shape-shifters. They read each other through the taste of their skin, and they wouldn’t have bothered to change their tongues. They just went into those other slave camps to make it look like the bombs were set off by rebels. I was their only real target.”

  “Why you?”

  “I’d been trading them robots and drones in exchange for resources we could use. The Alliance Envoy told me they were committing space piracy with our technology. He advised me to cut ties. I did, even though the treaty didn’t require it. They knew if they killed me my replacement might be willing to trade with them again.”

  Monica let the revelation sink in. “Do you think your commanders will believe you?”

  He had to think about this. Monica grew worried.

  Javintore stood while still holding her hand. “Let me succeed in my mission here. They’ll be more willing to listen if I can give them a better way to deal with the parasites.” He kissed her hand. “Trust me.”

  “I do,” she said softly.

  Chapter 10

  Javintore went to the bridge of the ship and checked how far the parasites were from the planet. The disgusting worms were still an hour out, but now he had their trajectory so he knew where to place his decoys on the planet. He ordered the pilot to bring them into the planet’s atmosphere.

  Now he had a few moments to think. Of course, his beautiful Monica was no rebel. He couldn’t have faulted her if she was, but that’s not what she projected to him. His lovely slave-bride was more like a crumpled bird, something he had to take gently into his hands and protect.

  He drew a deep sigh. There was no way he’d let them take her from him. His life felt listless before she became a fixture in his quarters. Now he couldn’t imagine being without her.

  The thought of his masters executing her made his chest grow tight. He’d wage war if they did that. It would be him and his mechanized army against the Empire. That’s how he’d seek his own suicide after her death.

  The sweet woman, her voice soft and her steps lighter than air, had crystallized his need to intervene on behalf of the slaves sacrificed to the parasites. Before they were abstractions to him, right and wrong in the simplest shades of black and white. Now he had a face, a set of gorgeous green eyes, and a thin delicate body to represent them.

  He input the coordinates for the decoys with conviction. It would only be a short flight over the planet.

  She reminded him of himself when he was first given to his mentor as a little boy. Neglect had turned him into an animal. It took love, food, warmth, and security for him to come out of his shell. He saw the same in Monica. Her plight resonated with him.

  She was his wounded bird—and he would stop at nothing to protect her.

  ***

  After six hours Javintore still didn’t return to their quarters. Monica got ready for bed. She had a sleek nightgown to wear now. She donned it and took her normal place in her master’s large bed.

  There was still apprehension, but not the level of dread she should have had at the prospect of answering for her presumed crime. Javintore inspired tremendous faith within her. As long as she was in his ship and in his presence she knew she was safe.

  She felt his hand nuzzling her face some time later. Monica fluttered her eyelids open. She’d been woken gently and warmth spread through her at the sight of shirtless master. He had the trace of a smile at the edge of his lip. Monica’s spirits buoyed.

  “My robot decoys worked. There’s a drone dragging an electro-net full of parasite covered robots to a black hole right now.”

  She gave a cathartic sigh. “Thank God. So no more slaves have to die that horrible death.”

  Javintore began to play with her hair, causing tingles at her nape. “I have get the new procedure established. Carbon emitting decoys have to be given to all the outer battalions.” He leaned close to kiss the swell of her shoulder. Monica began to feel fluttery in her core. “I’ll get it done.”

  “I’m so glad, Javintore.” Her voice had grown hushed.

  “It’s lucky I didn’t fail. The hyper-jump module on the Gen-lord’s ship broke down and they couldn’t get here. They’re claiming my atom propulsion unit damaged their systems—but they can’t prove it. The High Command is more interested in learning about an engine that can jump three causeways at once while time-traveling forward a few days.”

  “That’s incredible.”

  “I told them about the Deekitee-ans plot. It makes too much sense for them doubt me.” His eyes lowered. “They were still going to execute you. That’s the Hax-Rah way. Slaves answer for crimes whether or not they knew what they were doing.”

  Monica winced.

  “But I told them I’d taken you as my bride.” He reached over to trace her bottom lip with his finger. Monica opened her mouth for him.

  “Since you’re no longer a slave—you no longer have to be punished like one. You’re under my jurisdiction now.” His finger slid down her throat to dance over her collarbone.

  “Everything’s fine now…that’s what you’re saying.”

  “Mm.” He moved above her and kissed her neck.

  Monica closed her eyes. Tingly heat was cascading outward from where his mouth connected. Her body was slack. She was ready to relinquish herself without another word said.

  He broke from her. “We’ll consummate now.” His hand glided over the silky fabric covering her stomach. Monica’s flesh lit up with sensation beneath his probing hand. “Tell me you’re no longer afraid.”

  She met his shimmering yellow gaze.

  “I’m not afraid.”

  He closed his eyes and grunted, as though reeling from the pleasure of her forthright words. Then he lowered to seal their mouths together. The kiss, with their hot tongues sliding against each other, amplified the melty feelings in her belly. Monica wrapped her weakened arm
s around his shoulders. His determined mouth caused warmth to drip from her core to her pelvis. There was a tightening of in her sex along with it. This time she had no doubt where Javintore’s passion was leading.

  His hand slid up her sleek gown, cupping her breast, and then one deft finger teased her nipple to hardness. Monica winced, while still entwined with his mouth. The stimulation was stark and sudden. It turned the warmth inside her to heat, with the apex between the moistening folds of her sex. She felt her strength seep from her.

  He broke from her mouth so his lips could make a a buttery trail down her throat. The tip of his tongue came out to light the sensitive skin with heated wetness. Javintore’s lips continued lower, to kiss the small swells of her breasts.

  His hand drew up her gown, drawing the silky fabric over her hip and then just below her arm. She maneuvered to help him pull it off her. Both her nipples hardened to pearls from the eroticism of their exposure. Now only her panties remained. Javintore’s warm pectorals, as large as her own breasts, pressed against both perked nipples. He lowered his mouth to surround one rigid bud with soft kisses, then he plucked her in his lips and tugged.

  “Mm.” Monica threaded her fingers through his thick dark hair.

  Javintore’s hand danced over her ribs, igniting sensuous tingles on her flesh. He soothed lower, coating her stomach with his the heat of his touch. His hand swept over her hip, and then slided into the waistband of her panties. He worked his gentle fingers slowly towards her sex. Monica’s flesh lit up with goose bumps. She felt her breaths growing quicker.

  Her beloved moved his lips to her ear. “Don’t be scared.”

  She smiled at him. The reassurance, given in his sexy whisper, electrified her flesh even more.

  She matched his whisper. “You’re too wonderful to be scared of.”

  Javintore gave her a soft smile. He rejoined their mouths once more.

  His fingers pried between her legs, right at the crease of her sex. Monica’s face tensed. There was prickly heat beneath his hand. She clenched both her backside and her sex while he lingered there. So much tightness had built up that her stomach now trembled.

  No, she wasn’t afraid of him, but there was delirious anticipation.

  He mashed his palm against her mound of flesh without breaching her slit. Monica’s breath caught. Her clit and the tightness at her entrance was compressed beneath the strong hand. Javintore rubbed in a circular motion, causing dew to leak from her cleft. She took slow breaths with her stomach still quavering. Her sex was full of aching, prickly heat. Javintore’s firm ministrations coaxed her toward a feeling of urgency.

  His hand continued with the rhythmic motion. Monica clit hardened beneath her folds of skin. Javintore compressed and nudged the erect bulb with every pass. Her breaths grew more ragged. The exquisite cluster of nerves sent out staggering shockwaves of pleasure. Monica clenched her sex as though that would somehow brace her against the sensations.

  Javintore’s finger pried past her slippery hood. Bare finger touched right against her agitated clit. Monica jolted with her whole body.

  “It’s okay,” she said at once. She knew her reaction might make him stop again. He’d driven her to such a desperate pinnacle she couldn’t bear another pause.

  Javintore breached her wetness with two fingers. He glided them down from her clit, over sensitive petals, and to her guarded opening. He teased circles at her hole, turning the feelings from overwhelming to sublime. There was aching tightness below the pads of his fingers. Every touch twinged beautifully inside her, drawing her closer to the edge.

  He glided his fingers upward again. Her knot was circled by his forefinger, and then gently teased. Monica clamped her thighs on his wrist. He leaned down for another kiss. This distracted her enough for his fingers to keep searching the tender place. Her back arched, then she dug her heel into the mattress. When he broke from her lips she let out a tremulous cry.

  Javintore placed the tips of his fingers back at her entrance. His palm compressed her clit. He rubbed up and down with sudden vigor. Monica’s eyes widened. His hand was lubricated with her wetness, and curled fingers mashed against her taut opening.

  “Uh!”

  Javintore leaned down to suckle her breast. “Let it happen.” His hand continued its swift barrage.

  Monica arched her back. Her every muscle tensed. The hand grinding into her sex had prickly preorgasmic surges coursing through her pelvis. She gave a cry, just as she was at the brink. Her body no longer had control.

  The first spasm made her face contort. She squirmed beneath his relentless hand, her stomach clenching with every rapturous convulsion. Her soft cries, close to whimpering, couldn’t be restrained. Javintore continued rubbing, drawing out her orgasm. It had been so long for her, her body seemed unable to stop. Muscles deep inside her contracted inward and held her in the throes of ecstasy for a microsecond before releasing.

  After what seemed an unreasonable length of time, her body finally grew slack. She collapsed against the mattress, gasping with heaves of her bare chest.

  Javintore withdrew his wet fingers from her sex. He rolled off her to remove his underpants. Monica watched him, still gasping. A thick organ, long and curved toward his navel, came free from its restraint. She knew she would feel pain from him, but was still unafraid. Javintore resumed his place on top of her for another sultry kiss. She felt he was attempting to sooth her. She clung to him with all her waning strength to show she was ready.

  The length of his cock nestled between the folds of her sex. He thrust, dragging his organ over her slick petals and clit.

  She craned back her head. “Ngh.” The area still throbbed from the work of his hand.

  Javintore continued to rub his cock against her, coating himself in her juices. The heated organ caused a renewed purr of arousal in her sex. Her clit pulsed under his sweeping member. She felt in a relaxed state, but one so vulnerable to pleasure. He was thrusting while holding her and lavishing kisses on her neck. If he continued for a long while she knew she’d climax again.

  Javintore pulled back and this time the head of his cock pressed against her entrance. She opened her eyes. He’d pulled back to gaze at her. His deep hot breaths hit against her lips.

  “Ready?”

  Monica nodded without hesitation. She knew she must have looked drunk to him. He’d put her in a state of dazed pleasure.

  There was a moment of pressure and then a stab of pain.

  “Ah!”

  His cock lodged halfway inside her. She saw his eyes roll back. He gave a shudder of ecstasy.

  “Oh…my love.”

  She lifted her face to kiss him. His mouth hungrily joined with hers. As he kissed his hips moved. She felt him continue to fill her. Her insides were throbbing around him, squeezing every heated inch. He pressed against the back of her length, causing a tender pang deep inside. Then he withdrew. She felt him compressing a pleasure spot as his cock pulled back. The heat lighting within her echoed the prickly ecstasy of her orgasm. She clung to him while her stomach quivered. Blissful anticipation had built in her once more.

  Javintore grunted and began to thrust. His cock had stretched her enough to move freely. Monica’s breath caught in her throat. His thick cock was plunging with enough vigor to make her desperate again. Throbbing heat within her clenched against him. She dug her fingers in his shoulders. He thrust without pause, making sexy sounds of exertion with every stroke.

  “Monica…”

  “Ngh…I’m almost…”

  He went faster. She gasped. He’d taken control of her responses once again. Five hard thrusts and she tensed with her second orgasm. She hitched one leg over his hip. Javintore’s cock continued to beat inside her as she convulsed ecstatically. Though her mouth was opened wide, her voice had lost all sound. He was drawing out such sublime pleasure with every filling stroke.

  She didn’t stop succumbing to her spasms until he ceased his movements. His cock felt like it was pulsating
inside her. Javintore bared his teeth and gave a sound like a snarl. He pushed his cock in deep, stretching the end of her length. Monica gasped while clinging to him. She felt a trickle of his seed spill out of her.

  Javintore’s face relaxed. She ran her fingers through his hair while gasping. Her beloved gave her an exhausted smile.

  “You’re amazing,” he said softly. “Everything I could have ever hoped for.”

  She held back a laugh. “You too.”

  He kissed her softly now while entwining their bodies. His cock remained inside her, though she felt his girth decrease. When he rolled to the side he became dislodged. He pulled Monica against the length of his body.

  “We’re one now. You’re my bride.”

  She traced her finger over his pectoral. “Mmm. Sounds like a dream.”

  “I want to give you everything.” His voice was breathless and his eyes focused on the ceiling. Monica wasn’t sure where his mind had wandered. “What can I give you?”

  “You’ve already given me everything.”

  “No. You think that because you’ve suffered for so long. Think back to what you wanted before you were enslaved. Tell me how I can make you my queen.”

  Monica thought it silly, but she knew he wanted an answer. She drew up some tried and true old memories. One vision became clear in her mind.

  “I want a swimming pool.”

  Javintore looked into her eyes. “You’ll have it. And an ocean, too.”

  Monica smiled. “An ocean?”

  “I’ll take you to a world where you can swim in the waves.”

  The thought made her giddy. She held this back. “Javintore, you don’t have to do all that. I’m happy just to be with you. To be with—someone I can trust.”

  “I don’t have to, but I want to. I lost my purpose in the Empire when the treaty was signed. I want to make you my new purpose.”

  She looked at him once more. His face had grown determined.

  “You deserve this.”

  Chapter 11

  Monica kicked off her shoes and ran into the cresting waves. The water was cold, but not enough to deter her. She angled her body to dive into a swell. When she came up for air she was laughing. The final chains of her enslavement were dissolving in the salty water. She felt truly free.