The Harvest: Taken Read online

  "The hell it's nothing—let me see."

  His back was crisscrossed in long, narrow cuts and raised welts—more than I could count at a glance. How could he say they were nothing? If the broken skin wasn't treated properly, he'd end up with scars. An insidious thought entered my mind. That might be exactly what he wanted—a badge of dishonor for failing to protect me.

  Oh, I don't think so, my mate. I had the insane urge to find Yar, dig him up, and kill him all over again for putting my mate through this kind of abuse.

  "Bathroom. Now, Keyno. There's a portable rejuvenator in there I can use to heal the cuts." Dragging him to the bathroom, I started the treatment on his back.

  "You took a horrible beating trying to get back to me. From the look of your back, you tried many times to escape. That's not failure in my book." I was determined to make him understand. "King Duran kept me safe until you could get back to me and reclaim me as yours. I'm alive, untouched, and sitting here with you now because you did not fail. Can't you see that?"

  The anguished light in his eyes slowly began to fade as we stared at each other in the reflection of the mirror. Damn the big oaf, what more does he think he could've done?

  "I am proud to be claimed by such a magnificent warrior as you. In no form or fashion did you fail me." I finished with his back and urged him back to the bed. "But if you ever shut me out like that again, I swear to God, Keyno, I'm gonna twist your fucking tail into so many knots, it'll take a magnifying glass and a pair of tweezers to untwist it. You understand that?"

  A startled laugh bounced around the room as Keyno pulled me down in the bed, grinning at me. Nuzzling at my throat, his purrs began to climb in volume. The sweet smell of cloves rose from his body as I rested against him, letting him mark me. A gentle kiss feathered across the bridge of my nose. Raising my hand, I threaded my fingers through his silky white hair.

  "Hunt me," I whispered against his hair.

  "What?"

  "Hunt me. You know... hunt me."

  He smiled at me, tugging gently on the white stripe of hair. "If that's what you want."

  "It is."

  "Then I think that you should run, and run fast for me." Keyno growled playfully at me, sending pleasure shooting through me. "Run, now!"

  I watched as Keyno slowly rose up onto his hands and knees, and then started inching toward me on the bed. His tail swished back and forth, ears laid back, and low growls sounded from him. I jumped off the bed with a breathless laugh and ran toward the door, darting through it as I heard him land heavily on the floor behind me. I scampered downstairs into the living area, already panting breathlessly from excitement. My heart thumped wildly as I glanced around, trying to figure out where to run. Another low growl warned he was closing in on me. Keyno stalked into our living area and focused on me. I ran at the couch, planning to put it between us, as he roared—not the angry sound he made back on the ship when I was attacked, but a deep, sexy rumbling noise. With a surprised yelp, I grabbed hold of the couch arm, using it to swing myself around the end of the couch as he moved slowly toward me, tracking me.

  "Think that's going to keep me from you, my mate?"

  He bolted to the left side of the couch as if he was coming around that side. Seeing what he was doing, I turned to flee to the right, thinking he would follow me around the couch. Instead, he grabbed the back of the couch and vaulted over it, landing in front of me, growling lightly.

  "Think again."

  With a stifled laugh, I ducked under his arms and ran around him toward the kitchen, knowing that he'd let me escape. He wasn't through "hunting" me yet.

  "Nowhere to run, Dale. That ass is going to be mine..."

  "Would you stop with the words. No fair!" I gasped, my whole body tingling from the hunger in his voice. I ran through the kitchen, hoping I had a big enough lead.

  I planned to veer left, which would take me to the patio. I was pretty sure he was far enough behind me he wouldn't see which exit I took. Hopefully he would go right, taking him farther away from me. I could then use the patio to circle back to the living room.

  Stopping outside, I listened. I heard nothing behind me—no pounding footsteps, no heavy breathing, nothing. It dawned on me that I hadn't stopped to think this plan through. Now I had no idea where he was. The scent of cloves was so thick throughout the house I couldn't use that to pinpoint him, either.

  "Where the hell is he?"

  I quietly made my way back into the living area, hardly daring to breathe and listening intently. Still I heard nothing and the main lights had been cut off now, casting the room in shifting shadows. Ha! I can see in the dark as well as you can now, love. But though I could see as well as he could, I had nowhere near his experience hunting prey.

  Inches away from me, he said a soft, "Boo!"

  I screamed like someone was ax-murdering me, throwing out my hands. Which was exactly what he wanted.

  "Holy fucking hell, Keyno!" I longed to take a swing at him for that stunt, but he had hold of both my arms now, drawing me up close to that big body of his.

  "Now I think I'll take my spoils back to the bedroom and examine my prize." Keyno threw me over his shoulder.

  I didn't fight him. I kind of enjoyed being hauled back to our bedroom like a helpless prisoner about to be ravished. I was secure enough in my own masculinity to give him what he needed. He placed me on the bed. I wiggled out of my clothes and then watched him strip, both of us needing that skin-on-skin contact. Lying down next to me, he leaned over and nipped my bottom lip. I grabbed his face and looked deep in his eyes.

  "Let me pleasure you, please, before you take over? Just lie there and let me do what I want, okay?"

  "Do your worst, my mate."

  Shifting positions, I settled down between his legs. Starting at an ankle, I nibbled at his shinbone, kissing tenderly. Running a finger up his calf, I caressed him lightly, luxuriating in the soft hair against my lips and the hard pulsing muscles contracting at my touch.

  "So strong, so firm," I whispered.

  Moving to the other leg, I repeated the caresses, teasing up his legs, nipping and kissing well-defined groups of muscles that I came upon as I traveled closer to the perfectly formed cock that beckoned me. Keyno growled low in his throat as I licked his legs, heading for my prize.

  "Dale, oh, gods..."

  "Shhh, busy here."

  His strangled laugh ended in a gasp as I tongued his erection, gently nuzzling up the length of him. His cock jumped against my lips as I blew at the moist head of his shaft. I tasted him, ran my tongue over the top of his cock, and then eased the head into my mouth, sucking on it as I rolled his balls with one hand. On my knees between his legs, I glanced up at him while he watched me slowly take him deeper into my mouth.

  "Yes," he groaned as I bobbed up and down his cock.

  Using my thumb, I pressed against his barb. He arched on the bed, driving his cock farther down my throat. My own shaft throbbed as I watched my strong, fearless mate give in to pleasure. Releasing him, I knelt next to him as I tickled his stomach muscles with my tongue. His muscles quivered and clenched as I made my way up his chest. I feathered my fingers across his torso, counting each rib as he jerked on the bed. His hand drifted across my back, raising goose bumps as I continued my journey up his body.

  "Dale..." he moaned, clutching the sheets with both hands, "I don't know how much longer I can keep my hands off of you."

  "I know," I said with an unholy grin. "You lasted longer than I thought you would. Just hang in there, my mate; I'm almost done."

  "Brat..."

  With a quiet laugh, I nipped at his pointed ears and then ran my tongue down each one as I panted softly. A thick strand of his hair escaped from under his back and caressed my shoulders and back, heading toward my ass. I knew I was running out of time. He had played the passive partner for as long as he could stand it.

  "Take me, my—"

  That was as far as I got. Before I even had a chance to finish the
sentence, he rolled both of us over and positioned me on my back as he loomed above me.

  "Oh, no, this isn't going to be fast and furious. It's my turn now, and I intend to take my time and torment you. I wonder how many times you can come in one night?" He grinned. "I'm going to have fun loving you."

  Moving down between my legs, he nudged my knees up and open. Lowering his head, he blew across my erection, watching it jerk as he rolled my balls. Shit, he's copying what I did to him. That scratchy tongue of his licked my cock, and then swirled over the top of the head as pre-come dripped out. Soft purrs vibrated against my shaft as he nuzzled me. As I grabbed hold of the sheets, my hips arched against his mouth. Moaning deep in my throat, I closed my eyes, letting my sense of touch take over. The downy soft hairs on his body rubbed against my legs as his hands slid under my ass, lifting me.

  The roughness of his tongue, combined with the softness of his lips and the warm puffs of air against my cock, sent me spiraling out of control. From one heartbeat to the next, my body came undone, and I exploded in his mouth as he drew all I had from me. As I dropped down from my orgasm, I expected him to release me, but instead he continued to suck me as I became more and more sensitive.

  "Keyno," I gasped. "This is getting to be too much."

  I thrashed on the bed from the pleasure his mouth inflicted. My body tightened and my legs jerked as I tried grabbing his head to stop him. Thick strands of his hair latched onto my wrists, pulling them down beside my body as he sucked me back to hardness. Moaning and writhing against him, I tried to will my body to stop fighting and relax, but my legs kept jumping. More of that silky, soft hair wrapped around my knees, keeping me open. Finally, I passed that too-sensitive stage, and pleasure began to pour over me again.

  As his hair released me, he grabbed my hips and rolled us over again. Settling on top of him, my hand lifted his shaft and I slowly lowered myself onto him. Bit by bit, I took him into my body until I finally settled down and he was encased within me. The jerking of his shaft sent a tidal wave of pleasure through me as I rode him—slowly at first, and then faster. I needed that feeling again, deep inside.

  Moans slipped from my lips as we moved together and, once again, I built toward climax. Staring at him, I watched the pleasure consume him as he grabbed my hips and began thrusting furiously up into me. Finally he froze, quivering, and, with a loud hiss, as his lips pulled back from his teeth showing his small, pointed incisors, came deep inside me.

  I came hard, covering his chest as his pleasure triggered mine. With a harsh groan, I collapsed on top of him as his barb bit into me, locking us together. Panting, I laughed softly as his rough breathing made my hair flutter around my face.

  "Okay," I gasped against his chest, "hunting is only allowed on special occasions or flower-infested planets."

  Keyno laughed as I lay sprawled on top of him, waiting for my body to calm down. "Gods, thank you. This could get dangerous." Finally, his barb released us, making me jump, and he helped me roll over to my side.

  "I'll get something to clean you up in a moment, just as soon as my head stops spinning."

  "You stay here. I'll get it," I said. "Rest for me, please? That would make me happier than anything else you could do for me right now."

  He stared at me while I watched the battle within him rage. I decided to tip it toward me by being sneaky.

  "I need to take care of you, to tend to you." I made my voice as heartbroken as I could. "I need this to help me settle down and feel better after our fight. It would... it would make me happy."

  "Your happiness means the world to me. I'm sorry for the pain I caused you earlier. If it'll make you feel better, then tend to me."

  I quickly jumped up and rushed into the bathroom to grab a warm washcloth before he saw the smirk on my face. I cleaned myself, and then rinsed it out so that I could clean him. I wanted him to rest, and if I had to pull the wool over his eyes to get the job done, well... I could live with that. I walked back to the bedroom, wiped him down, and threw the cloth into the wash basket. Keyno lifted the covers, and I climbed in the bed. Snuggling up to him, I closed my eyes as he turned the lights out.

  "Nicely done, by the way. You laid it on just a bit too thick, though... brat."

  With a slight grin, I rubbed my foot up his leg. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

  Within minutes, we were both asleep.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Over the next several days, all of our friends came to see Keyno and hear about what had happened. Word came from King Duran that if our starships spotted the pirates, they had permission to try and capture them. He wanted everyone involved in Keyno's kidnapping punished. Keyno had put his anger over Yar behind him and everything was fine between us. Once or twice he had nightmares, and I held him through them.

  I was learning to settle into my new life. My relationship with Keyno was growing, and Chad, John, and I were the best of friends. Both couples often spent time with Keyno and me. Keyno took shore leave to recuperate and spend time with me. All of us made a point to visit Jolak and King Duran, too. And, since Keyno didn't have a mission scheduled anytime soon, we made plans to visit Ti and Colt.

  Keyno, Gibor, and Doc would be the first Tah'Narians allowed on Onfre... ever. I was looking forward to going for one particular reason: Colt. Maybe Keyno was right; maybe I did feel some sort of responsibility to the gang member—as crazy as that sounded. But I needed to know if he was content with his new life.

  This trip was a momentous stride forward for the two species and a real chance for peace. But not everyone was happy with the budding friendship between Keyno and Ti—or between Tah'Nar and Onfre, for that matter. Many Tah'Narians were unable to get past what the Onfre had done.

  Then... there were some of the Onfre who felt just as negatively about the tentative relations between the two species. I knew that, but I didn't know why.

  Since we had nothing planned for the next couple of days, Keyno decided this would be the perfect time to visit Ti. Gibor and Doc found out about the trip, and the next thing I knew, our whole little gang was going.

  It was late in the afternoon the day before we were due to leave. I'd been restless most of the day, unable to settle. I woke up that morning with all this nervous energy, and decided to give Keyno a wake-up call that would curl his tail. Fifteen minutes later, I had Keyno grasping the sheets and moaning as I worked him to completion.

  I was packing on the evening before the trip when Keyno walked into the bedroom with the box that held the costume I wore during the dinner with his uncle. My mouth dropped opened as I recognized the box.

  "Wow. Are we having a formal dinner while we're there?" I packed the box.

  "There's a formal dinner in our honor, so yes, we're going to have to wear these again." A slight smirk crossed Keyno's face.

  "Cool. I like dressing up."

  "I enjoying seeing you dressed up." Keyno winked at me, his eyes lingering on my groin.

  "Oh, big shock there."

  I watched as he carefully packed his costume. Chad and John would also have to wear theirs, so I was in for more smartassed comments about walking around wearing a mint. In addition to the costumes being covered with Tah'Nar's rarest gemstones, they were also cut to show off our best assets, were extremely tight, and left little to the imagination. 'Things an alien stripper would wear' or 'clothing to seduce even a dead man' would be good descriptions, come to think of it. But they were also standard formal garb, as I'd discovered at the palace when we attended the last banquet, and very comfortable. Well, as comfortable as any clothing could be when I had a raging hard-on.

  I finished packing, and carried my duffle bags out to the living area. "How long are we going to stay?"

  "No more than two days." Keyno carried his bags out, too. "Ti wants to set up an exhibition match between us. It should be a good match, and I'm looking forward to it. The rest of that day will be ongoing competitions that focus on different types of skills. I may ent
er some of them."

  "This competition is just for show, right?" I stopped in the living area and frowned at him. "I'm just asking, not questioning your abilities."

  "Yes, and I know that you're not. Would you like to compete?" Keyno looked at me. "They have a class suited to your experience level."

  I shrugged. "Not really. I'm perfectly happy watching you compete, getting all hot and sweaty."

  "Careful, my mate," Keyno purred at me. "Well, if you change your mind, let me know."

  "I will, but don't hold your breath. What time are we leaving in the morning?"

  "Early. I'll set the alarm," Keyno replied. "We'll have to pick everyone up, and then get to the shuttle. We're taking one of the larger ones so we'll have plenty of room. It'll take several hours to get to their planet since the shuttle isn't as powerful as a starship."

  I wandered outside to the patio, and Keyno joined me. A light rain was falling, so Keyno started the electric fire pit. Keyno sat down in one of the chairs and pulled me onto his lap. I snuggled against his big body as he wrapped one arm around my neck, turning my head to face him. His other hand caressed my chest, making random patterns on my shirt as his tongue traced my lips. "Open to me."

  Keyno's scent enveloped me. The hand on my chest unbuttoned my shirt, slowly pulling the fabric open, exposing my chest to the coolness of the night. Nipping my bottom lip, he growled lightly as I finally opened my mouth, letting his tongue in to explore. Moaning, I forced myself to remain still as his other hand traveled over my chest, circling ever closer to an aching nipple.

  "Oh, God, touch me... " I whispered into his mouth.

  "Mmm, you're on fire tonight, aren't you?" Keyno purred as his fingers tugged on a hard, pert nipple.

  That tug sent shock waves rippling through my body, stiffening my cock and making me buck, bend, and squirm. Dropping my head back against his shoulder, I relaxed into him. One of his hands lightly caressed my throat, holding my head against his shoulder while his left hand teased both my nipples. Slowly, his left hand drifted down to my pants and rubbed the bulge straining against the material. Moans fell from my lips as he eased my cock from my pants and stroked me, his right hand loosely holding onto my throat. Time lost all meaning as his hand moved up and down my shaft, occasionally rubbing the head. As he stroked me faster, I grasped the arms of the patio chair and rocked my hips. Lifting his hand off of my cock, he ran a finger across my lips. "Taste yourself."