Accidental Abduction

Chapter Twelve

Tren woke first, and he used that moment to stare in silence at the alien female who’d captured his heart-and soul. Not that he was ready to tell her that yet. He didn’t want to give her that much power over him, even if she already unconsciously wielded it.

The stunning realization that he couldn’t live without Megan rocked him still. He’d fought an inner battle against caring for her-and lost. His capitulation and admittance when he’d watched over her during her convalescence that he loved her was the driving force behind the reason he’d brought her to his secret hideaway. A first ever.

He’d claimed the planet in his youth, and over the years built himself a home and a security system that rivaled that of kings and heads of government. He should know since he’d designed most of theirs.

And he’d brought Megan to it, brought her home. He still remained undecided as to what he would do about his acquisitions business. Much of that depended on Megan. His marked mate.

He’d bitten her the night before, unable to stop himself, wanting; actually, make that needing to claim her. She didn’t know it yet, but she belonged to him, forever, whether she liked it or not. He dared hope the former.

As for her belief he still intended to auction her, he kept the ruse up for the entertainment of seeing her get mad. Although, he might have to drop it soon because he’d noticed sadness in her eyes the last few times she’d attempted to rile him with it. He couldn’t stand to see her upset. Her silent tears during their copulation tore at him and roused a fear in him that she wanted to leave him. Never!

He still needed to recover from the anxiety he’d suffered at her capture and beating. That will never happen again. He’d hate to be the idiot who ever harmed a hair on her head. If they thought him viciousness as a mercenary, then watch out, because as a mate he could promise worst.

Megan stirred against him, and he brushed the hair at her temple back so he could press a kiss there. She sighed softly and wiggled her bottom against him. Blood rushed to his cock, which expanded, but that would have to wait for later. He’d made other plans for the morning.

He whipped the sheet back and she squealed. “Hey, it’s chilly. Give it back.”

“Get your lazy human buttocks out of bed, female. We have work to do.” She rolled onto her back and shot him a dark look. He grinned in reply, loving how she never let him intimidate her.

“What’s with this we? If you have something to do, go ahead. Me, I’m crawling back under the blankets and enjoying this bed some more. After all, someone made sure I didn’t get to use it much for sleep last night.” She scowled as she said it, but couldn’t stop the humor from lighting her eyes, or the sensual stretch of her body.

Tren’s cock jerked in response. Megan smiled as she dragged her hand down over her belly, then further to the curls that crowned her cleft. Tren growled at her teasing maneuver. “Megan,” he warned.

“What?” She widened her eyes with mock innocence as she bent her legs and parted her thighs. She no sooner exposed her pink flesh than she dipped her own finger into her sex.

Tren was only a male, and a weak one when it came to her it seemed. He fell on her like a ravening beast and gave his mate what she so obviously desired.

Then again, to make sure she could last for the time it took to accomplish his planned task.

After cleansing themselves and feasting on the fruit harvested by his staff from the trees in his personal orchard, he finally managed to get her out into the courtyard where he’d had his rack of weapons hauled out for practice.

She perused them and threw him a questioning look.

“You asked that I teach you self-defense. Welcome to your first lesson,” he announced as he stripped his shirt off and flexed his upper body.

Her expression brightened. “Really? I thought you said I didn’t need it.”

He shrugged. “You don’t, because I intend to be all the protection you need, but it was not an unreasonable request in the unlikely event I am not around.”

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll use this knowledge to hurt you?” She smirked as she said this and Tren laughed.

“You will have to work very hard before you can hope to do that. So come on, my little barbarian. Do your worst.”

They spent several units grappling because, as he explained, the first element of defense involved learning what a body was capable of on its own.

She hit the ground often-thankfully he’d padded it ahead of time to protect her more fragile constitution. Each time she landed, she got up and scowled at him with annoyance, then cursed him with expressions he’d never imagined. But she didn’t complain. She kept picking herself up, and rushed him again.

When he called a halt, a sheen of sweat covered her body and her breath came hard.

“Not bad, but I think next time we’ll concentrate on a weapon. You’re just too tiny to do any real damage,” he taunted.

Megan’s jaw dropped. “Tiny? Are you kidding me? I’ve been called a lot of things in my time, but tiny is not one of them. You have seen the size of my ass, right?”

Tren grinned. “I have seen your buttocks and quite enjoy their round softness. Would you care for me to show you how much?”

Megan laughed, and Tren didn’t resist approaching her for a passionate kiss. He almost bent her over in the courtyard, so quickly did she fire his passion, but he’d planned another surprise and wouldn’t allow himself to become distracted-yet.

Tearing his mouth from hers, he scooped her up into his arms. She laced her arms around his neck as he carried her down the path to the beach.

“Please tell me we’re going for a swim?” she asked eagerly.

“If it pleases you. I had the staff bring down some food and a blanket so we might eat outdoors.”

“Awesome. A picnic.”

Her obvious pleasure made him smile. He’d no sooner set her on the sandy beach than she stripped and ran for the waves, laughing in delight. Tren stood watching her for a moment, his heart swelling uncontrollably tight. A connection existed between them now, invisible, yet stronger than any bond he’d ever imagined. He turned his back to unpack the basket, but he could still sense her location, and even odder, catch her emotions. Joy as she caroused in the waves but, even more awe-inspiring, he could feel her strong affection for him.

He’d never paid attention in the past to the talks of mating among his kind. He’d never expected it to apply to him although his parents had enjoyed such a bond. The experience far surpassed the bits and pieces he did know.

When he had the blanket arranged to his liking, he joined her in the water, stripping off his clothing first. He sluiced through the waves until he caught her naked body and rubbed it against his. She wrapped her legs around his waist and smiled at him. Her eyes shone and her lips curved in a smile while her pleasure at his presence wrapped around his being in a warm embrace.

“What are you thinking?” he asked although he already knew through their bond.

Her grin widened. “About how I’d love to eat something.”

“Our repast already awaits us.”

She bit her bottom lip and shook her head. “Not for that type of food.” She arched one brow at him, and he growled.

“You are insatiable.”

“And your problem with that is?”

Tren kissed her in response as he carried her back to the beach, and the waiting blanket. He’d just made it to the sand when an alarm went off in the pile of their clothing.

“What is that?” she asked as she let herself slide down his body to stand.

Tren downplayed the alarm. “Probably just a malfunctioning sensor. We’ll need to return to the house so I can look into it.”

He kept a sharp eye out as they dressed, visually tracking the area all around them. The warning didn’t bode well at all as it indicated a surface breach which meant someone or something had already penetrated his planetary shield. But no matter, he’d take care of whomever thought to disturb him on his home turf, and he’d do it painfully for having interrupted his tryst with Megan. To be on the safe side, he also keyed in a request for additional support from the barracks, where he’d exiled his usual security guards, so he might enjoy some private time with his mate.

Grabbing her hand, he tugged her after him as he pulled out a gun with the other.

“Um, I thought you said it was probably just a bad sensor thing?”

“It always pays to be cautious,” he replied as he increased their pace going up the path to the house. She didn’t reply, but the bite of her fingers laced in his let him know she understood the gravity of the situation despite his attempt at reducing it.

The very stillness around them bothered him so he almost sighed in relief when he finally saw motion, scuttling green forms that thought to ambush them. With the house in sight, the path to it clear, Tren pushed Megan forward.

“Quick now. Run inside and hide in the bedroom until I come for you.”

She hesitated and he could see indecision in her eyes. “But what about you? I can’t leave you alone.”

She worried for him? Tren’s chest swelled. “Fear not for me, I can handle this; however, I need you somewhere safe so I am not distracted.”

She went on tiptoe to brush his lips before turning to run with a muttered, “You’d better be careful or I’ll hurt you myself.”

He grinned at her departing figure, not taking his eyes from her until she’d made it into the house safely. Then his lips curled into a vicious snarl.

Time to take care of the scum who threatened his female.

Megan dashed into the house, but she had no intention of hiding and leaving Tren alone to fight. She just wanted to arm herself before she returned to help him. She ran into the main living area, but saw nothing of use. What she really needed was something from those racks of weapons she’d seen this morning during her fighting lesson.

She strode into the kitchen, meaning to ask the staff where they’d stashed them, but skidded to a halt. She found the small creatures-who acted as servants and looked like Hollywood’s version of green Martians-tied up and gagged.

Which meant some of the bad guys had made it into the house. Shit. Megan whirled to run back to the front door and Tren, but hit a brick wall. She tried to back pedal, but hands gripped her with the strength of iron. She peered up in fright and encountered the familiar leer of Tren’s brother.

“Let me go,” she yelled.

“No.”

She kicked out, hoping to connect, but wise to her previous style of attack, he kept his lower body arched away. She struggled against him, but he reeled her in and slung her over his shoulder. She pounded at his back shrieking.

“Bully. Tren is going to make you regret this.”

“Not before I make him regret what he did to me,” Jaro replied with an inappropriate grope.

Megan’s blood ran cold as his intent came clear. “Like bloody hell.” With no weapon at hand, she remembered what Tren had taught her and used the only weapon she had. She bit Jaro.

He cursed, but didn’t put her down. “Feisty barbarian. Good thing I came prepared.”

A jab in her thigh made her huff in annoyance. “Aw, fuck. Not again. What is it with you aliens and drugging women. Jerrrk.” She slurred the last word as the world went fuzzy and she blacked out.