Читать книгу Surprise Mates - Grace Goodwin - Страница 8

Ambassador Lord Niklas Lorvar, Prillon Prime, The Palace

“SURPRISE!”

Queen Jessica, with her mates behind her—Prime Nial and Lord Ander—stopped dead in her tracks as she came into the ballroom, her eyes widening like dinner plates and her mouth dropping open. Once the initial shock was over, she covered her face with her hands and laughed. Male clapping joined squeals of feminine laughter and shouting as a clutch of human women surrounded her like Hive on a downed fighter.

“Stop scowling, Niklas,” Sambor scolded while he, too, clapped slowly, his rough hands coming together like slow-moving thunder.

I watched the stunned happiness on the queen’s face as she realized many of her fellow Earth brides had come from their home planets to Prillon Prime to celebrate her birthing day. I’d heard one of the females had organized it with the queen’s mates, obviously having kept it all a secret. We’d received an invitation, something I knew, as ambassador, not to decline.

My duties to Prillon Prime were of the utmost importance to the entire Coalition Fleet. And part of my job was to maintain an excellent working relationship with both Prime Nial and his second, Lord Ander.

Turning down an invitation to their mate’s private celebration was not an option—no matter what pressing matters awaited mine and Sambor’s attention. Criminal activities on Rogue 5. Cerberus Legion’s new interest in human females. Dr. Helion and the Intelligence Core’s attempts to extract information from a Nexus unit we were holding in captivity. Important things for the safety and security of everyone present, and everyone in the Interstellar Coalition of Planets. Instead of taking care of these issues, I was supposed to remain here for several days, sneaking away for meetings, only to return for more celebrations, which I’d been informed were to include a sweet baked item from Earth called cake and listening to strange Earthen music for hours upon hours. I had never listened to human music, but knowing how chaotic and unpredictable humans were as a whole, I did not have high hopes that their music would be tolerable to Prillon ears.

“We should not be here, Sambor. There is too much work to do.”

“We already must transport off planet for meetings twice during the celebration days.” Sambor still clapped his large hands, and he had a smile on his face. “That’s more than enough. What’s the point of fighting all the time if we don’t enjoy ourselves once in a while?”

“The custom of shocking one on their birthing day does not qualify as a worthy use of our time. We should be out in the field protecting the queen, not standing here watching her cry.” For the female was crying profusely, and every female who approached and hugged her seemed to make the crying worse. “Perhaps the females from Earth are not as intelligent as I had assumed. Why do they not stop?” I could not stand to see a female in pain, as was the case with most of the males in the room. I expected Ander and Nial to be severely affected, emotionally linked to the queen as they were through their dark red mating collars, but they beamed like they’d just won a fierce battle. “I do not understand females.”

Sambor burst into laughter. “A truer statement has never passed your lips, my friend.”

I wasn’t one for surprises and it wasn’t a Prillon tradition to make a celebration a secret, but it appeared to be something normal for the primitive planet where all the squealing females were from. And something they clearly enjoyed.

“Niklas, no jest. Stop scowling. You’re going to give Prime Nial the impression you don’t want to be here,” Sambor continued, although the Prime was far too enthralled by his mate’s joyful face to note the frown on mine.

“I’m too busy.” Right then, music came through hidden speakers and I cringed. I’d never heard such a theme before, but all the females squealed again and laughed. They grabbed one another by the hands and dragged each other toward an open area I assumed was designated for dancing.

However, the strange high-pitched male voice coming through the speakers had the ladies twirling, gyrating, stomping and waving their hands all around in the oddest type of ceremonial display I’d ever witnessed.

Ah, Earth music. Loud, odd and weirdly rhythmic. As I had feared.

I listened to the words. “Why do they want to spin a baby right round? And what is a record? Is that what is wrong with humans, that they were spun in circles as infants?”

Next to me, Sambor looked as confused as I felt, and shrugged. “Why are their motions not in sync?”

I wondered the same. “Perhaps they have not properly learned the steps.” Every female, beautiful in her own right—some wearing Prillon collars, others Trion adornments, some with Atlan mating cuffs about their wrists—was moving as if distinctly separate from the others.

“They look like flapping birds panicked by a serpent.” Sambor’s dry humor was one of the reasons I kept him around all these years. The smile that creased my face was true.

“So they do. Lovely birds.” I did not allow my gaze to linger overlong on any one female, despite the beauty on display before us, as their very possessive mates watched from every angle and corner of the room. Sambor and I were one of less than a dozen unmated males who had been trusted to attend. I would not insult our Prime by causing problems with any of the mated females.

Nor did I wish to battle a raging Atlan beast or pair of mated Prillon males who might take offense at my interest in their mate.

“Why do they threaten endless spinning of their infants?” he asked, wincing. “‘Baby’ is their word for infant, correct? My NPU is not malfunctioning?”

“If so, mine is as well.” I noticed expressions similar to Sambor’s on the other males about the room. That had the corner of my lips tipping up yet again. I wasn’t the only one suffering. The ladies clapped in time to the heavy beats of music with obvious delight.

A beautiful young female moved to the front of the room and took a comm from the technician operating the strange, human music system. She lifted the unit to her mouth as the music faded. Thank the gods.

“Hi, everyone! I’m Lindsey from The Colony. That sexy Hunter, Kiel, is my mate.” She waved, her gaze lit with mischief. “Hi, sexy!”

Sambor and I turned our heads to see a large, very intimidating male standing with his arms crossed and an amused expression on his face as he lifted his fingers in the smallest possible wave. It was enough. Lindsey blew him a kiss and Sambor chuckled.

“Lucky fucker.”

“Indeed.” The Hunter would have been intimidating if not for this odd festive occasion. We had worked with Elite Hunter squads many times. Never did they look so… harmless.

Lindsey continued, moving her fingers now to indicate that Queen Jessica should come to the front. I returned my attention to the gathering of the other females, twittering with anticipation as the queen came forward to stand next to Lindsey.

“Happy birthday, Jessica!” Lindsey wrapped an arm around the queen and gave her an odd side hug.

The ladies all shouted the same as the shocked males looked on. We would not dare refer to her so familiarly.

The queen beamed. “Thank you all so much for this amazing surprise. Thank you, Lindsey. I know you helped Nial and Ander do this for me. I love you so much.” She looked up, tears gathering in her eyes as she worshipped her mates with her gaze. Never had she been shy about claiming her males in public—from the very first in the combat arena where she’d claimed both Nial and Ander before the entire crowd—and that was one of the reasons she was so beloved by all Prillons.

Fuck that. The entire Coalition Fleet.

The queen and Lindsey shared a look and Sambor chuckled. “I know females, Nik. That looks like trouble.”

I had to agree, but I remained silent as the queen continued.

“Do you know what I want for my birthday, ladies?”

“What?” a bunch of them shouted.

“Line dancing!”

The females put their hands in the air, their screams nearly deafening every suffering male in the room.

“What the fuck is a line dance?” Sambor asked.

“I have no idea, but I hope no harm comes to children with this one.”

Lindsey took the comm back as the queen hurried down and was lost in the crowd of excited females.

“Must be a very formal Earth custom for the queen to request it for her birthing day gift.”

Lindsey took a deep breath and scanned the edge of the room where dozens of males stood looking fierce, intimidating, deadly… and confused as hell. “You heard the queen, gentlemen. Line up. Straight rows. Cover the dance floor. This is for the queen’s birthday gift.”

When the males grumbled and didn’t move fast enough, Prime Nial moved to stand at the front of the room, Ander next to him. Ander’s scowl was enough to encourage every slow foot.

“Fuck.”

“Let’s go, your lordship. Looks like even you aren’t getting out of this.” Sambor clipped me on the back, hard, and stepped forward to take his place in one of the lines. Full armor. Weapon. The works, since he was here as my personal guard and we’d both come directly from a day of meetings at IC Command. Next to him, a petite female in a sparkling gown and Atlan mating cuffs twirled and giggled in anticipation. On her other side, a freakishly monstrous cyborg with matching cuffs hovered protectively, clearly as confused as Sambor and I by the upcoming ritual.

By the gods, I hoped this line dance ceremony did not take too long. I had a warm bed waiting, since tomorrow would be another busy day at IC Command. Duty came first, as ambassador, in work and at events like these that were meant for pleasure. It was hard to relax after spending the day with Helion, the head of IC, and knowing another stressful day would follow in the morning. No doubt Sambor—and Lord Ander, who’d been part of the Prillon Prime contingency—agreed. But as the guest of honor’s second mate, this held more satisfaction for Ander, meaning more disappointment at dawn when he would have to leave his mate’s bed.

I stood next to Sambor and paid no attention to the bodies lining up next to us, behind us. The queen and her two mates were in the front row. If Prime Nial and Lord Ander were participating in this human ritual, there was no excuse not to.

Lindsey pointed to various females and warriors in the room to give instructions. Move there. Stand here. You two, back one row. It went on for about a minute until she was satisfied with the appearance and placement of everyone in the room.

“Good.” She looked at the comm tech. “Let me get in line and then start. Okay?”

He nodded gravely, as if she’d given him a life-or-death order, then watched as she scrambled to stand next to the Elite Hunter she’d identified as hers a few moments ago.

Being a worthy male, he kissed her senseless before the music started.

I approved. If a male was going to claim a female for his own, he’d damn well better take excellent care of her. That included kissing her into dazed submission as often as possible.

The comm tech looked to Lindsey, who nodded. Then to the queen, who nodded as well. My entire being tensed in dread as he reached forward and activated the strange human music again. This was a different song. A stringed instrument filled the air with a pounding beat behind it as the females all clapped along.

“Perhaps this version has no voicing,” Sambor mused.

We were not to be so lucky.

“Follow along, everyone. And one-two-three-four!” Lindsey shouted.

On the next beat, the ladies stepped forward. Then backward. The males scrambled to imitate the movements, but none of us had a clue what was happening next.

“This is strange, Nik. But at least they are all moving together now.”

Sambor was right. The ladies moved as one, stomping, clapping. Running into the males.

Laughing.

The human voice spoke words that made no sense.

“…tell my lips to tell my fingertips…”

The whining male’s voice seemed to repeat over and over in a strange cadence that was singularly annoying. “Why would a male speak to his own fingertips?” I asked. “Human males make no sense.”

Sambor, who seemed to be learning the steps with an ease that made me want to trip him, grinned as he executed a perfect turn on his heel. “The male’s heart is aching and breaking. However, the ladies seem to enjoy the idea of a male in pain.”

As the song repeated a lyric about a male’s heart blowing up inside his own body and killing him, the ladies stomped in unison, yelled out with excitement and clapped before starting the whole thing over again.

“Human females are, apparently, a bloodthirsty and merciless species when it comes to mating,” I muttered.

Sambor nodded in agreement. “And I thought Prillon females were ruthless.”

Two Atlan Warlords rammed into each other, one letting out a bellow of irritation seconds before his mate whirled into his arms and pulled him away. Then there was Commander and Lady Karter. She had the moves down, and beside her, Karter himself had picked it up. He was moving to the music and… fuck, he was enjoying himself. When he spun around in a circle, I saw the pleasure alighting his face.

Who would have guessed that Commander Karter could dance?

“To the right!” Lindsey shouted.

As one, the ladies turned to face the right, and Sambor and I hurried to keep pace. I was not going to humiliate myself by running into…

“Oh!”

Softness. A squeal. A small human female fell toward me after I’d run into her like a giant Atlan oaf.

“My lady! My apologies.” I caught her in my arms, and she pressed into my chest, the dark green and gold gown she wore fluttering about my legs as the forward momentum of her fall had her softness, her feminine scent enveloping me completely.

I forgot to move with the group, staring down into a pair of bright green eyes. Her hair was a halo of auburn fire, and there was a small gold ring teasing me where it pierced the delicate flesh of her adorable little nose. I blinked, frozen as if stunned by an ion pistol.

Was she from Trion? The piercing made me wonder, but her gown was not typical of that planet’s females. Nor did I feel piercings or a chain where the hard pebbles of her nipples pressed into my chest. Gods help me, she was beautiful, and my body responded with instant demand. My cock hardened, and my pulse pounded while I fought for control. Where was her mate? Her protector? I knew I should look around for a male who would be eager to take her from me, but I could not move.

She smiled up at me, her fair cheeks coloring under my attention to a perfect pink that matched her lips. Her full, open lips. I stood frozen, unable to look away.

“Sorry.” Her breathless apology made my cock jump as the tremble in her voice was all I needed to imagine hearing that aching struggle for air under different circumstances… like when I filled her with my cock as Sambor held her in place for my claiming. When she was well pleasured, mindless with need, he would take her from behind as I held her body locked to mine, as we made her ours.

Fuck. I was insane. Right now there was most likely a pair of Prillon warriors or an Atlan Warlord preparing to remove my head from my body for holding her like this.

Close. Feet off the floor. In my arms and under my protection as if she were mine.

Sambor rammed into us from the side.

I threw an elbow to protect the small female in my arms from the armored giant, and he flew backward, landing with a thud against the Atlan who lifted his mate out of the way with a speed I’d learned to appreciate on the battlefield.

The Atlan bellowed a warning. Sambor landed in a crouched position, snarling back.

“Rezzer, I’m fine.” The female reached up and placed her palm on the Warlord’s cheek. Instantly he calmed. She turned her gaze to me and then the female I held. Her eyes widened; then she grinned, a wicked sort of silent communication moving between the two human females. “Vegas?”

The woman in my arms glanced at me, then at the woman. “Maybe!”

I had no idea what that meant. “My name is not Vegas, my lady,” I told her.

Rezzer looked to me, to my arms where they remained wrapped around the female. “Lucy, has this male harmed you?”

“Of course not,” she replied, her voice melodic and filled with happiness. Her name was Lucy.

The huge Atlan crossed his arms and stared me down. This imposing action caused Sambor to stand quickly and move in close to my side, just in case the beast decided we’d harmed his mate or challenged him.

“Really, Rezz, I’m fine. I promise,” Lucy added. “I tripped and he caught me. That’s all.”

The Atlan tilted his head as if deciding whether or not to believe the female. His gaze narrowed. “Then why are his arms still about you?”

A Hunter bumped into the back of the Atlan, which did nothing more than make him frown. Huge fucker. And with the Hive tech implants I’d caught glimpses of, he was probably even more dangerous than the average Atlan, which was downright savage.

“Because you aliens can’t dance to save your lives. That one tripped and was about to run me over,” Lucy countered, pointing at Sambor, who actually turned from his usual golden tone to a much darker brown, closer to my coloring than I’d ever seen him, even in the heat of battle.

My second was embarrassed.

I wasn’t sure if I was saving her life, but I’d go with that if it kept her in my arms. “I would never harm a female.”

The Warlord grunted in agreement, and his stance relaxed. “I gave my word to Warlord Wulf to protect her while he is on Earth with his mate.” His neutral face gave way to a frown. “I knew bringing an unmated female to this planet would be a mistake.”

I heard one word… unmated. Setting the female gently on her feet, I kept my arm around her as I bowed low to the Warlord whose next words might very well determine my fate. “I am Lord Niklas Lorvar of Prillon Prime. Cousin to Battlegroup Commander Lorvar. Ambassador and trusted advisor of Prime Nial.” Warlord Wulf was this female’s protector? How had that happened? “And this is Captain Sambor Treval, close cousin to Hunt Treval of The Colony.”

“You are Hunt’s cousin?” He looked to Sambor, who nodded gravely.

“Hunt and I grew up together. He will confirm this. I am a warrior of honor. I would never harm a female,” Sambor assured him.

The Atlan paused as if considering. Around the room, several more Atlans and more than one Prillon duo had begun to take an interest in our conversation as well. Fuck. Attention was not what I wanted, not with this beautiful female in my arms.

“I assure you, Warlord, I am a male of honor. Lucy is safe with me,” I tried to ease the overly protective beast and nearly held my breath as I waited for his decision. Would he leave Lucy in my care? Or steal her from my arms before I had a chance to learn what might please her? Make her sigh? Moan? Scream in pleasure?

“Leave Lucy be,” the Atlan’s mate said to him. “These guys will take care of her.”

I didn’t miss the way she grinned when she said that, although I wasn’t exactly sure why.

“Come on, Rezzer. Dance with me,” she continued, tugging on his uniform shirt. “I’ll show you the moves.”

With one last glance at me accompanied by a snarl of warning—as if I didn’t know that to harm a single hair on Lucy’s head would mean my death—he allowed his mate to lead him back into the steps of the strange dance.

Lucy melted against my side once the Warlord moved on.

“That was intense,” she said, then looked up into my eyes, and I forgot we were standing in the middle of a roomful of people. “Thanks for catching me.”

“My pleasure.” The words were idiotic, but I didn’t care. Touching her was a pleasure. As was looking into her gaze, tracing the outline of her lips with my fingertip.

“Really, Niklas?” Sambor asked, jostling me enough to break the hypnotic hold the female seemed to have on me. I looked up to find him grinning. “Starting fights? I thought you were a diplomat.”

“I believe it was you who said something about enjoying ourselves.” My gaze locked with Sambor’s, and I tipped my head down to indicate the human in my arms. This female was beautiful. Stunning. My cock remained hard despite every attempt my mind made to reason with the insolent organ.

She was here as a friend of the queen. She was human. How was it possible she did not have a mate?

Or two?

Or three? Surely she belonged to someone.

I’d seen more than one group of Viken fighters escorting a female tonight, including the queen and kings of Viken carrying their two precious daughters. Both with dark red hair like their mother.

Like Lucy.

“Holy fuck,” Sambor murmured just above a whisper when he got a good look at the female in my arms. He went rigid, and when one of the kings of Viken stepped on his foot and offered apologies, he didn’t even blink.

I looked down and drowned in her gaze, my entire body going as rigid as my cock. She wasn’t squirming or fighting to be somewhere else. It seemed she liked being held as much as I liked holding her.

“Are you not frightened?” I asked, my voice loud enough to be heard over the music.

“Of you or your terrible dancing?” She actually laughed, setting the fiery curls around her face to bouncing. The rest she had twisted up on top of her head in some strange configuration common among females. “Either way, the answer is no. You’re actually kind of smaller than I’m used to.”

I wasn’t sure if I should laugh at her boldness or feel insulted. I was nearly seven feet tall, by no means small.

“Only Atlans are larger than Prillons. You are mated to a beast then?” Sambor asked. Had he not heard the Atlan, Rezzer, grumble about her being unmated? Or was he simply seeking confirmation? Our gazes dropped to inspect her wrists, which were bare. No mating cuffs.

When the Viken king bumped into Sambor again, I’d had enough. I picked her up and walked out of the dancing throng. Lucy did not resist. But when we reached the side of the room, I had no choice but to set her back upon her feet.

Her smile was open, welcoming and curious as she glanced up at the two of us. “To answer your question, no. I don’t have a mate.”

“Based on the ring in your nose, I assumed a mate from Trion,” I said, looking again for the outline of similar adornments in her nipples.

“Nope, no Trion mate, nor am I seeking one. From any planet.”

“You’re not? I understand that human females were only allowed to leave your planet to mate or fight in the war,” Sambor said to her. Earth was one of only a handful of all planets that allowed their females to fight, a decision both Sambor and I disagreed with, not because a female couldn’t hold her own in battle, but because we were more than willing to sacrifice our own lives so they did not have to.

Apparently Lucy did not approve of Sambor’s words. She frowned and I did not like to see the crease mar her smooth brow. “Wow. Know everything about us, do you? I understood that a Prillon male got tested for a bride because he couldn’t find one on his own.”

I couldn’t help the smile at the way Sambor’s eyes widened at her well-countered words or the way he bowed his head slightly.

“My apologies. Lucy, correct?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Then if you are not here to acquire a mate, why are you here?”

Her bright green eyes glanced between me and Sambor with… unhidden desire. Lust. Open and blatant appreciation.

Need.

My cock punched against my pants, eager to get to her, to fulfill any need she might have. I envisioned her in bed between Sambor and me. Naked. Our hands and mouths on her. Our cocks in her. I could almost hear her moans of pleasure, screams of satisfaction.

She set her hand on my chest, and I felt the heat of it through my tunic. Fuck, she was a contrary thing. Tiny and frail, yet a tongue sharper than a Viken’s most ruthless blade. Lightness and now this… heat.

Taking a step closer, she placed her palm in the same spot on Sambor. “I am here to enjoy myself. To have some fun.”

“Please do not let us stop you from dancing some more.” I would deny her nothing, and I had to admit watching her dance would be quite erotic. “Unless the queen bids otherwise, we will remain here and watch.”

“I want you to do more than watch me.” Or at least that’s what I thought she said—her voice had dipped almost to a whisper. “So you’re a lord?” she asked, louder this time, her thumb sliding back and forth across my chest, distracting me.

I imagined that thumb sliding over the crown of my cock, and I was ready to toss her over my shoulder and carry her off to an empty room in the palace so she could do so.

Her scent filled my head, and my heart raced as if I’d just outrun a Hive scout in a stealth fighter. “My name is Niklas.”

“Nik.”

I’d never heard anyone shorten my name before, but the abbreviation made me want to yell mine so everyone could hear me over the thrum of loud music. Gods, she was a bold little thing. No Prillon female would make such forward contact with a male. She licked her lips in Sambor’s direction.

“And you?” She looked up at Sambor, who was armed and had to be almost two heads taller than the petite female, yet she appeared unafraid.

“I am Sambor Treval.” He set his hand over hers and bowed slightly at the waist.

“Sam and Nik.” She sighed like we’d revealed the secrets of the universe and filled her with bliss. I suddenly wanted to hear more sounds from her small throat. I wanted to hear her beg, hear the soft cries of her release. Sighs of surrender. I imagined stripping the wispy green fabric from her body, unwinding the golden strands that crisscrossed her waist and breasts as if unwrapping a gift.

“Are you two together?” Her green gaze flitted between the two of us. “You know, like a warrior and his second?”

Fuck. My cock jerked to attention as Sambor nodded. “Yes, I am his chosen second.”

“How can we assist you, my lady? A beverage?” I asked, trying to regain control of my body after the gut punch that was this small, human female. Bouncing red curls, pale skin too even and perfect to be real. Her green eyes were lined with dark accents that made them appear larger, more innocent. Obviously the work of magic as she was not acting as an innocent would.

She was pure seduction. Beauty.

“Orgasms.”

I coughed, stunned by her boldness. Sambor laughed.

“Orgasms?” Sambor repeated.

“I’ve spent too many nights alone in my bed.” She looked us up and down; then her gaze remained on down, on our cocks. Mine was rock-hard and pressing against my pants. I had no doubt Sambor suffered a similar affliction. “I was hoping that maybe, while I’m here, you two might want to join me?” Her words were bold, but her gaze was averted, unsure—now that she’d offered herself to us.

Yet there was no denying her sincerity. Or her need. I inhaled deeply, scented her feminine heat, the sweet perfume of her skin. Her pussy, hot and wet and eager. For me and Sambor. Together.

“You want us to see to your pleasure,” Sambor said. Everyone but the guards were dancing. Still, he kept his voice low. “Touch you. Fuck you. Make you scream your release?”

Leave it to Sambor to be crude, but her eyelids flared in shock, then dropped to hide her desire. Her pink tongue flicked out to wet her lower lip. “Yes. That’s what I want.”

I lifted my palm to cup the side of her face and gently angled it toward mine, waited with what felt like infinite patience for her to open her eyes. When she did, I nearly groaned. Her green gaze was flooded with honesty. Need. Trust.

Submission.

Unable to resist, I ran my thumb along her plump lower lip, imagined it wrapped around my cock.

She offered herself. The raw hunger that slammed through my body made my decision a simple one. I chose to accept. The party continued all around us. It seemed Sambor and I would have a party of our own. A smaller, more intimate one with just one guest. Who needed to sample the Earth cake that was on display when we could eat Lucy from Earth?