Alien Brute Read online

  “Malak.”

  “How’s the ship? “

  “It’s great,” I answer.

  “That’s it? I thought you’d be more excited to break in a brand new Class V cruiser.”

  I glance over my shoulder. The door is closed, and not a sound leaks through. If I can’t hear the humans, they definitely can’t hear me.

  “I’m a little distracted, is all.”

  Malak leans forward. “Ah. The females. The redhead caught your eye?”

  “The other one, actually. Sasha.”

  “Ah, yes. The troublemaker. You’ve picked a wild one to tame, my friend.”

  “I have no interest in taming her,” I lie. “My place is at court. Zunda Egos awaits me there, in only a fortnight. I shouldn’t even have volunteered for this mission.”

  “Nonsense. You are the man best suited for the job. And only you can decide what life has in store for you. I’m sure the princess has plenty of prospects.”

  “I’m not you, Malak,” I say. “I don’t follow my heart as easily.”

  “Use this as on opportunity then, to be more like me,” he smirks.

  “Shrink down four inches, file down my horns, lose half of my muscle? Hard pass, my friend.”

  Malak throws his head back and laughs. “You’re paying for that. Next time I see you, I’m taking you down, Koz.”

  “Any time, brother.”

  I run my hand across my chin. Catching up like this is fun, but the mission awaits. I was given little time to prepare. If anyone knows humans it’s Malak, but he needs to stay close to his pregnant mate.

  “How do you think the humans will react to me?” I ask.

  “They will be terrified of you. Emma warned me that they might try to attack you on sight. Don’t let them provoke you.”

  “Don’t worry.” I tap the dun armor with my fist. “Nothing is getting through here. I’ve seen the females — if the males are similar, they will be unable to harm me.”

  “Good.”

  “Do you think it wise to ask them to settle on Aegon, though?”

  “Their home-planet is dying, and their colony ship must be all out of fuel — they do not have much of a choice, my friend. I know first hand how stubborn humans can be, though, so be warned. And if you have any more questions… you have two humans with you. Ask them.”

  The thought of asking Sasha for help both excites and scares me. If left alone with her…

  Will I be able to control myself?

  It’s the first time in my life I’ve had to ask myself that question. And also the first question that I simply don’t know the answer to…

  Chapter 3

  Sasha

  Even the soft hum of the spaceship can’t lull me to sleep. My heart’s racing too fast for that, for some reason.

  I’d like to know how long this trip is going to take, but I’m not about to ask Kozus. I shimmy my way further into the plush, leather seat and close my eyes.

  Deep breaths. Everything is fine.

  The door to the cockpit whooshes open suddenly.

  “Sasha. Come here.”

  Kozus’s low grumble startles me, adrenaline pumping through my veins in an instant. I feel like I’m back in school and I’m getting called into the principal’s office.

  Have I been a bad girl?

  I ignore Ciara’s meaningful look and stumble towards the prince’s cabin, tugging this gorgeous Aegir tunic Malak has gifted me as low as it’ll go. The flowery garment still leaves most of my legs exposed.

  “Yes?” I ask.

  Kozus pats the seat next to him.

  “Sit.”

  It’s not a question. It’s a command. One I feel compelled to follow. I sit down next to him and gaze out the windshield. Countless stars pepper the dark sky.

  It would be a calming sight — if it weren’t for the eight feet of heavily muscled alien looming over me.

  “What’s up?” I ask.

  I really am acting like I’m back in school. Get it together. You’re better than this.

  Kozus points at a speck in the distance. “Somewhere in that quadrant, left of that bright star is where we will intercept the human vessel. But, I have a confession to make. I am not well versed in the customs of humans.”

  Oh really? I hadn’t noticed. Is this the part where I pretend to be shocked?

  The alien places his massive hand on my naked thigh. I suck in a sudden breath. It’s not like he’s grasping my lower-thigh either, but comparing the size of my thighs and his claws, it’s all going to be rather close to my sex palace.

  “I need your help, Sasha.”

  His sharp nails sink into my skin, and the sensation sends shockwaves through my body. It hurts a bit, but not as much as it feels good. Which is utterly confusing. My palace is closed. No men allowed.

  Especially not big ass blue ones with claws for hands and massive spears for cocks.

  I asked Emma and Olivia. They didn’t share every last detail, but they told me enough. Enough that I’m worried what this alien beast can do to me.

  I’m used to getting my heart broken. Kozus can break a whole lot more if he isn’t careful. I ignore the thumping in my heart and grab his hand and lift it off my thigh. It takes all of my strength.

  “Okay, first of all, don’t touch humans there.”

  He nods. “Understood. Where do you prefer to be touched, Sasha?”

  A little bit higher and to the right.

  I don’t say that. That would lead to me whimpering and shaking and moaning and nobody wants that. Except for Ciara perhaps, who has made it her mission to hook all her friends up with Aegir men it seems. Not interested!

  “Nowhere. Don’t touch humans… anywhere!”

  “Understood. I apologize.”

  He lowers his horns, and I instinctively back away. They are big and sharp enough to gorge someone on. I’ve seen Xak do it up-close to an unfortunate alien. The gory image is still burned into my retina.

  “It’s fine,” I say. I can still feel his grip on me, can still feel the butterflies flapping in my stomach. I need to call Olivia, because emotionally I am all over the place, and that’s not like me at all.

  If this is love then I’ve never been in love, that’s for sure, because I’ve never felt like this before, this… giddy and restless. It’s probably altitude sickness. Great. Now I’m worried about that.

  “Is there like a med-bay or something on this ship?”

  “Yes, in the back and to the left. Why, are you feeling ill?”

  “No reason. Look, I know that you mean well, and I will help as best I can, but I’m not exactly a diplomat either. You’re better off asking Ciara for help, I think. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to use the bathroom.”

  I stand up and practically run out the door, rushing past Ciara who looks up in surprise.

  The med-bay is white and sterile, and smells just like the hospitals back on Earth; clean yet vaguely unsettling. Some things don’t change.

  I place my hand on the touchscreen and it whirs to life.

  “How may I help you?” A female voice says.

  “Who said that?!” I blurt out.

  “My name is Celeste, and I am the onboard medical AI.”

  “Oh. Sorry.”

  “Please state your medical emergency,” Celeste says flatly.

  “I need you to check me for altitude sickness, or some other… Aegir bug or something. Please.”

  I don’t know if I have to be polite to an AI, but I’m sure it doesn’t hurt either.

  “What are your symptoms?”

  “Shortness of breath, racing heart, clammy hands…”

  “Loss of appetite?” Celeste asks.

  “Yeah, now that you mention it.”

  “Sleeplessness?”

  “Yes.”

  “Understood. Commencing scan. Please hold.”

  A tingling feeling rises from my toes all the way to my scalp.

  “Scan completed. Your heart rate is elevated, and
I also detect vaginal wetness and engorgement of the clitoris and the labia,” Celeste lists off.

  “Excuse you?” I say

  The machine beeps and hums. “I can say with 99.9% certainty that what you are experiencing is colloquially called ‘falling in love’. It is my professional opinion that you have found a suitable mate, and your body is preparing to engage in coitus. A perfectly healthy and natural response.”

  I can’t believe this. The damn machine is calling me thirsty.

  “So there’s a 0.01% chance you’re wrong, Celeste? Is that what you’re saying?”

  “Technically speaking I am 99.999995% confident in my assumption. I shortened it so your human brain could easier cope,” Celeste says.

  “Now you’re getting sassy with me? Unprofessional.”

  “If I have offended your human sensibilities, I am sorry. I am merely a medical AI. I do not possess sass.”

  “I think we’re done here.”

  I run out of the medical bay, more confused now then when I entered. I know myself. I know my body. It’s mine, after all. I’ve been in this bad bitch for 25 years now.

  And I am not ready to jump that man’s big blue bones. Celeste is flat out wrong. Human sensibilities my ass. I need to call Olivia.

  I turn around and march my butt back into the medical bay.

  “Celeste, can you patch a call through for me?”

  “I could, yes, but it is not my primary function. I am a class V Medical AI, with nano-gland processing and fiber—”

  “Yeah, yeah, I didn’t ask if you wanted to do it, I asked if you could. Please call Olivia. I’m sure you can figure out who I mean with your nano-glands. And oh yeah, make sure Kozus isn’t listening in, either.”

  “Prince Kozus of the Xeerdom of Kar is the commander of this vessel — I cannot hide anything from him.”

  “But can you let me know when he’s listening in?”

  “That I could do.”

  “Then be a good robot and do that. Please.”

  “…sure,” Celeste says. Is that resignation I hear in her voice?

  “Thank you Celeste!”

  A moment later, Olivia’s familiar visage pops into life in front of me. A holograph that’s frighteningly real. Only the blue shimmer convinces me she’s not actually in front of me right now.

  “Sasha! Missing me already?”

  Her hair is slightly disheveled, her cheeks flushed. “Am I interrupting something?”

  “No, not at all, just taking a nap. What’s up? Nothing serious I hope?”

  I choose to believe her.

  “It’s Kozus,” I whisper conspiratorially.

  “What about him?”

  “He keeps. You know. Checking me out.”

  “Well, you are foxy. Is that why you called? He can’t be the first man whose shown an interest in you.”

  I feel suddenly very silly for calling my friend. Kozus is not the first man who’s hit on me, but he is the first man that I feel this… strange about.

  “It’s not just that, I also feel… well… weird. And I thought that maybe you know why. I feel kinda stupid now that I say it out loud…”

  “Don’t feel stupid, Sasha. You know you can always call me. I’m glad I’m your go-to girl. What did Ciara say?”

  I can’t help but roll my eyes. “She’s been trying to set me up with him from the moment he entered the carriage. It’s like she thinks she’s Cupid or something. It’s getting on my last nerves.”

  “Ha, classic Ciara. I thought she got what she wanted when I got with Xak?”

  “It seems that wasn’t enough for the little matchmaker, and now she’s set her arrows on me.”

  “Is that how you feel, though? Struck by Cupid’s arrow?”

  I sigh deeply, close my eyes and breathe.

  “Maybe. Maybe. I’ve never felt this way before, though. How did you know Xak was right for you?” I ask.

  “I can’t explain it. It’s just a feeling that I had. When you know, you’ll know.”

  That’s not comforting at all.

  I don’t know jack.

  Chapter 4

  Kozus

  Sasha’s fragrance lingers in the cockpit, making my heart race still. Why did I do that, grab her thigh?

  I didn’t mean to touch her naked flesh. It happened subconsciously. My hand had a mind of its own. It was drawn to her. And now I’ve scared her off, offended her, angered her.

  It is for the best.

  I shouldn’t get involved. No matter what Malak says.

  My situation is completely different. I cannot disappoint my elders. My choice has been made.

  A button on my dashboard lights up. Someone on the vessel is making a call to Aegon. I suppress the urge to listen in, and instead close my eyes.

  Twelve more hours until we arrive. Enough time to rest my eyes for a bit.

  Enough time to think of Sasha. To imagine how those luscious curves of hers look underneath her tunic. To recall how her soft skin still lingers on the tip of my claws. To ponder how all I needed to do was lean over and kiss those perfect lips of hers, slip my tongue into her mouth, make her mine right there and then and end this fucking charade…

  No.

  I need to quench this fire inside of me, this lust. That’s what it is — mere lust. A quick release and I will be back to normal.

  I open the door. Ciara looks up at me. “Sup?”

  “Where’s Sasha?” I ask.

  “I don’t know, somewhere in the back,” she gestures vaguely. “What did you need her for?”

  “I asked for her help in communicating with the other humans.”

  “And, what did she say?”

  “She was… uncooperative,” I say.

  “Ah, that’s a delicate way of putting it. I can see why they chose you to ride along with us. You’re much more careful with your words than Xak ever was. He would have scared the shit out of Captain Haas, I can tell you that much.”

  “Haas? Is he the alpha?”

  Ciara snorts. “That’s stretching the truth a bit, but he’s the one calling the shots, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “It is.”

  “Then, sure. He’s the alpha. But don’t call him that to his face. Or do, maybe he’ll get off on it, who knows.”

  A sour taste fills my mouth. “I have no interest in helping Haas get off, human.”

  “You and me both!” Ciara says. “Ah, you don’t think I’m very funny, do you? Sasha didn’t either. See, you two are more alike then either of you realize! How about you go and find her in the back and you two can talk about how annoying I am? Come on, shoo.”

  “You are… strange, Ciara.”

  “I know.”

  I head to the back of the vessel — but not to find Sasha. I head to my private sleeping quarters, and close the door behind me. I drop my armor and my cock springs out, freed from its confinement at last.

  A quick release. That’s what I need.

  All thoughts of Sasha’s curves, her lips and eyes will be a distant memory once I blow my load…

  Sasha

  With my mind still reeling I make my way back to the front of the ship. I hoped Olivia had an easy answer for me, but she did not.

  When you know, you know.

  I’ve never been more unsure of what I know in my damn life than right now.

  “Ah, there you are,” Ciara says as I plump down in my seat next to her. “I thought you two were boinking.”

  “Get your mind out of the gutter.” I say. “I just spoke to Olivia.”

  Ciara perks up. “Why, what’s up?”

  “You know what’s up. I just wanted to get her perspective on the matter.”

  I don’t mention how the medical AI told my I’m thirsty for Kozus. Ciara already has enough ammunition to tease me with. I don’t have to make it easy for her.

  “And, what did Olivia say?”

  “That I’d ‘just know’ if it was the real deal. Honestly, I don’t. I can’t wait t
o be back on the Banks, surrounded by other humans for a change. No offense.”

  “None taken,” Ciara says. “Even Kozus seems to tire of me. I think I may have developed some slight cabin fever from being in small enclosures with big aliens all the time. That might be why I can’t shut my yap. I think that’s what my future therapist is going to tell me, anyway.”

  “My god. Therapy. Yeah, we probably need that, don’t we?”

  “Are you kidding me? Of course we do. I don’t know where to start. We got abducted by those bugs, tied up and imprisoned, and that’s all before we went to Xi’Jek. The things we saw there still haunt me at night, if I’m honest. I’m surprised we’re still as functional as we are.”

  I lean all the way into my seat and stare up at the ceiling. “Do you think that’s why I’m imprinting on Kozus?”

  “Cause he’s an authority figure? A protector who makes you feel safe? Maybe. Is that your type in general, stronger older men?”

  “I don’t have a type,” I scoff.

  “Come on, everyone has a type,” Ciara says as she leans forwards. “Including you.”

  “What’s yours then?” I ask.

  “Tall and skinny, like a rockstar.”

  “Oof. Okay, perhaps I do have a type then, because it’s not that. Tall, yes, skinny… if I had to choose, I’d like a man who could lift me up, you know?”

  “Kozus can do that for sure,” she says.

  “Oh, I have no doubt about that.”

  “So why the pushback?” Ciara asks. “Why are you not open to seeing where this goes? What have you got to lose?”

  I roll my eyes. “Are you my therapist now or something?”

  Ciara looks over her shoulder and runs one hand through her long, red hair. “I seem to be the only person around. So why not?”

  Fuck it. Why not. What have I got to lose, right?

  I take a deep breath, steady myself, and then I tell her all about Ryan. How my first love, my only love, cheated on me, how he made me swear off love for good… or at the very least, until the pain has gone away. Three years later it still hasn’t.

  When I’m done, Ciara claps her hands together. “Girl, you can not keep carrying that weight around!” she practically screams.