A Warrior's Heart Page 8

  Aaron grinned as he accepted the hand held out to him. He grimaced as he stood and rubbed his side. It had been several weeks since they were brought aboard the Horizon and things were beginning to settle into a routine.

  “You okay?” Ben asked, coming up behind him.

  “I’m fine. Just a twitch,” Aaron assured his older brother. “I have to admit I haven’t felt this good in a long time.”

  Ben chuckled as he nodded to Cree who muttered he was needed elsewhere. It was true. He hadn’t felt this good in a long time either. It was amazing what good food, clean clothes, plenty of rest and a daily workout could do for a person.

  Ben walked beside Aaron as his brother crossed over to the benches lining the edge of the training room. Cree, Calo and several other Valdier warriors had taken him and Aaron under their ‘wings’, allowing them to train with them each day. Even the warriors’ attitudes were changing toward Evetta and Hanine. Right now, their ‘mates’ as the warriors called them, were in Engineering showing off some of the programs they had developed on their own over the years, including bypassing the Spaceport’s shields.

  “So, what do you think about Ha’ven’s offer?” Ben asked as he sank down onto the bench next to Aaron. “Should we take it?”

  “Yeah,” Aaron replied, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. “Yeah, I think we should take it.”

  *.*.*

  Aaron thought of nothing else but the strange and unexpected offer they received from the Curizan Prince named Ha’ven Ha’darra. They were working out yesterday when the man approached them. He had asked a lot of questions, many of which they couldn’t answer, about where they had been and who had taken them. All they could tell him was a little of their life back home on the farm and about the changes going on with the Marastin Dow.

  “Where do you plan to go now?” Ha’ven had asked toward the end of their conversation.

  Aaron had shrugged, but Ben became more vocal. They found out that the Marastin Dow were not respected by other species as Evetta and Hanine had told them. It took several weeks before security finally stopped shadowing them and even now, they were never left alone unless they were in their cabins.

  “Any place that will accept Evetta and Hanine,” Ben had growled. “We will not allow our wives to feel inferior to anyone else because of the color of their skin.”

  Ha’ven’s laughter echoed throughout the room, drawing the attention of several warriors who were working out. When he stopped, he had surprised them with his offer. It was too good to pass up.

  “There is a village set up centuries ago on my planet for a mixture of species who left their worlds for various reasons. They are an unconventional group and would accept your mates and you. You are welcome to settle there. I know there is plenty of land. You and your brother are welcome to cultivate it, if you wish.”

  “Why?” Ben asked skeptically. “Why would you welcome us when you don’t know us?”

  Ha’ven’s eyes darkened and his eyes moved over Ben and Aaron in a slow, measuring way. A dark, almost dangerous smile curved his lips. The smile did not show in his eyes, though.

  “You and your brother are like Creon’s mate, Carmen. I offer you a place with others that are different. It is your choice if you wish to accept my invitation,” Ha’ven replied coolly. “Just know this, I see more than you realize. Believe me when I say I am not one to cross. If you decide to come, remember that and make sure your mates understand it as well. I have no mercy for those who would defy me, be they male or female. The choice is yours.”

  *.*.*

  Aaron remembered the cold feeling that washed over him at the look in the Curizan’s eyes, but the offer was too tempting to ignore.

  No, he thought. A plot of land, a home and Hanine sounded like heaven to me.

  Chapter 13

  “Hey,” Ben whispered as Evetta stepped into their room later that night. “How was your day?”

  Evetta’s eyes widened when she saw the table set with covered dishes, a small light and a paper flower in the center. She walked over and fingered the unusual shape. She turned and smiled up at Ben as he came up beside her.

  “It went much better,” she answered. “What is all this?” She asked with a wave of her hand at the table, the light and the turned back covers of the bed. “Were you expecting someone?”

  “I once told you I wanted to do this right,” Ben replied with a slight, nervous tick beating at the corner of his jaw.

  “Do what right?” Evetta asked in confusion as Ben knelt down on one knee in front of her. “What are you doing?”

  Ben took a deep breath and reached for Evetta’s left hand. He thumbed the small platinum ring in his own. He and Aaron had found some discarded metals and crystals. They couldn’t believe it when they were told that it would be either recycled or disposed of once they returned to their home world. Zuk told them they could take what they wanted. They had both grabbed the items they needed and worked on the delicate rings in their spare time.

  Ben’s fingers trembled as he held her hand in his. He knew that he had been referring to Evetta as his wife for months now, but this was different. This felt right.

  Drawing in a deep breath, Ben looked up into Evetta’s puzzled eyes and smiled. Yes, he thought. This is right. Feeling more confident, his smile grew as he stared up into her beautiful eyes.

  “Evetta, would you do me the honor of being my wife?” Ben asked in a low husky voice filled with emotion.

  Evetta frowned. “Does this mean you still belong to me?” She asked suspiciously.

  Ben threw his head back and laughed. “Yes, my beautiful Marastin Dow warrior. It means I belong completely to you and only you.”

  A small, satisfied smile pulled at Evetta’s lips. “Forever?”

  Ben slid the delicate ring, lined with beautiful diamonds and emeralds onto Evetta’s ring finger before rising back to his feet. He tenderly brushed a stray strand of hair back from her cheek. Bending down, he brushed a light kiss over her lips, groaning when she rose up for a deeper kiss.

  “Forever,” he promised when they finally pulled apart.

  “Then yes, I will be your wife,” she giggled, throwing her arms around his neck. “I love you, Ben Cooper!”

  “Not as much as I’m about to love you, Evetta Cooper,” Ben groaned as he pressed hot kisses into her neck. “You are an incredible woman, Evetta. I have to be the luckiest man in all the star systems.”

  “You have too many clothes on,” she whispered, fighting to undo the unfamiliar hooks on his shirt. “That is better.”

  Ben hissed as her fingers worked their way to his heated flesh. His hands gripped her waist. He leaned his head back when her lips followed her fingers. A shudder went through him as her tongue teased his right nipple before moving to the left one.

  He lowered his head with a low groan. “My turn,” he muttered in a choked voice. “You are definitely wearing too many clothes for the occasion.”

  Evetta’s delighted laugh filled the room as Ben pulled her shirt off. She soon had her boots, pants and underclothes in several piles on the floor. She squealed as Ben lifted her up in his arms and carried her toward the bathroom.

  “Where are we going? The bed is the other way,” Evetta giggled as he set her in the cleansing unit.

  “I’ve always wanted to try this,” Ben admitted with a grin.

  Evetta’s eyes followed his hands as he pulled his pants off. Her eyes warmed in approval at his arousal. She would never get tired of looking at him. Reaching out, she drew her fingers over and around his throbbing cock and tugged.

  “Demanding little thing, aren’t you?” Ben asked in a husky voice. “Do you want some of this?” He asked, rocking his hips so his cock slid back and forth over her damp palm.

  “No,” she whispered, looking up at him. “I want all of it.”

  “Then it’s all yours, baby,” Ben gritted out as she continued caressing him. Unable to stand it any longer, he wrapped his fing
ers around her wrist and twisted her around. “All yours,” he repeated as he pushed into her from behind.

  “Ben!” Evetta cried out as he pushed deeper.

  “Forever, Evetta. You are my wife until death do us part,” he grunted as he rocked deep inside her. “God, I love how you feel.”

  “Good, so good,” Evetta panted as she spread her palms against the wall.

  Ben watched as he pushed in and out of her. The contrast between his skin and hers was erotic. The slender curve of her hips, held captive by him, brought him to a fevered pitch. Her cries filled the small room. He could feel the nubs inside her closing around him as her climax rose. No matter how much he prepared himself, he was never ready for it. Her vaginal walls, lined with the tiny nubs that swelled as she became more aroused, ran the length of his cock. When she shattered around him, they clamped down on him, gripping his cock tightly while pulsing like tiny massagers.

  His strangled gasp mirrored hers as he exploded deep inside her. He leaned forward and wrapped his arm around her as he came. He had to brace one hand against the wall as she sagged. He pressed hot kisses along her back and shoulders as he held them both up.

  “I love the way your body locks around me,” he murmured.

  Evetta chuckled weakly and leaned back into him. “That is good since there is nothing I could do if you did not. Oh…” She moaned as he twitched inside her, pulling on the same nubs that locked him to her. “That is, what is the word you taught me… wow!”

  “Wow is an understatement,” Ben acknowledged.

  “Ben,” Evetta murmured as he pulled out of her.

  “Yes, love.”

  “I’m glad I’m your wife,” she whispered as she turned in his arms when he straightened.

  “Me too, sweetheart. Me too,” he said, kissing her again.

  Chapter 14

  Aaron looked around the room in excitement. Hanine came in a short while ago from work and he acted like it was no big deal. He casually asked her if she wanted to go to the dining area for dinner. She gave him a funny look, but agreed. It almost killed him to keep a straight face when she went into the bathroom to get cleaned up.

  The moment she shut the door, he sprang into action. He turned when he heard the door buzz. Glancing at the door to the bathroom, he hurried forward.

  “Not a word to anyone!” Cree hissed in a low voice. “I can’t believe you roped me into this.”

  “You said anything if I could knock you off your feet!” Aaron responded with a grin, pulling the cart of food into the room. “You fell.”

  “You kissed me!” Cree retorted in disgust. “Whoever heard of a warrior defeating another with a kiss?”

  “Hey, man,” Aaron grinned. “All’s fair in love and war and I am definitely in love.”

  “Yeah, with a Marastin…” Cree’s mouth snapped shut when Aaron’s eyes darkened in warning. “You are not to say a word about this to anyone or I will slit your throat myself.”

  Aaron ran his fingers across his lips as if zipping them shut as Cree backed out of the room. Ordering the door closed, he locked it and pushed the cart so that it was next to the table. He was about to move the covered dishes onto the table when the door to the bathroom opened. He turned, exhaling in a loud hiss as Hanine filled the doorway wearing nothing but a small towel wrapped around her body.

  “Mu… music,” he whispered. “Play music.”

  “Who was at the… door?” Hanine breathed out looking up at the ceiling. “Oh, Aaron.”

  Hanine stood in awe as Aaron walked slowly toward her. His eyes lit up with warmth at the tears glittering in her eyes as she took in the hundreds of small origami shapes hanging from the ceiling like stars.

  “Can I keep you?” He whispered when she looked back at him. “Forever?”

  “You’ve had me at the first origami,” she admitted, biting her lip and laughing. “You are crazy.”

  Aaron’s arms opened and he caught her as she flew into them. His arms wrapped around her bare, slender figure as she wound hers arms around him and buried her face against his neck. He could feel the hot, wet tears as she shook her head.

  “I’m crazy about you, Hanine. I have been from the first time you rolled your beautiful eyes and stuck out your tongue. Man, I knew I was a goner,” he murmured as he pulled back just far enough to slip the ring he created for her on her left hand. “You are my wife. I love you, Hanine.”

  “I love you, Aaron Cooper,” Hanine muttered passionately. “I love everything about you, you crazy human.”

  “Show me,” Aaron whispered as he bent to kiss her. “Show me what you love about me.”

  Hanine’s smile was all the answer Aaron needed. The promise it showed was enough to ignite the fire in his loins. He reached for the clasp on his pants. He pushed them down at the same time as she pushed his shirt off his shoulders. Her fingers gently caressed the long scar on his side.

  “I almost lost you,” she whispered as she ran her fingers along the scar. “I was never so scared in my life.” She looked up at him as he pulled her fingers up to his lips and pressed a kiss against them. “You make me feel things I never knew were possible. You give me hope. You make me believe…”

  Aaron pulled her gently forward as he backed up to the bed. “What do I make you believe?” He asked in a husky voice.

  Hanine’s eyes glittered fiercely. A single tear escaped as she gave him a shaky smile. “You make me believe in us.”

  Aaron wrapped his arms around her as he slowly lay back on the covers. He held her to his chest marveling at how perfectly she fit against him. Running his hands up her back, he closed his eyes and breathed in her sweet scent.

  “Believe, Hanine. Never forget that. Always believe in us and we can do anything,” Aaron promised her. “Anything.”

  Hanine raised her head and gazed down at him. Rising, she slid her legs on either side of him until she was straddling him. She pulled his hands up and pressed them against her breasts as she slowly slid down, impaling herself on his cock.

  “Hanine,” he moaned. “Oh, baby, yes.”

  “I believe, Aaron,” she promised. “I believe.”

  Aaron looked up, amazed at the beautiful creature above him. Her eyes were closed as she rode him. A soft smile curved her lips and her face was relaxed as she moved in a slow rhythm that was wreaking havoc on his body.

  “Oh, God, Hanine,” Aaron panted as he felt her swelling around him. “Baby, I can’t… I can’t…”

  Hanine’s eyes opened and she stared down at him in triumph. She increased the speed, twisting a little as she came down on him. Her lips parted when he pinched her nipples as his pleasure built to an unbearable pressure.

  “Forever, Aaron,” Hanine cried out as she shattered around him, locking him to her. “You can keep me forever.”

  Aaron’s own body answered hers. His cock pulsed in time with her orgasm. The muscles in his forearms strained as he rose up, pressing deeper into her so every last ounce of his seed was taken. Satisfaction swept through him when she fell forward. He cradled her quivering body in the protection of his arms.

  “I’ve got you, sweetheart,” he murmured. “My beautiful warrior’s heart.”

  He held her against his heart, staring up at the glittering array of origami. Each one reminded him of her in some way. He realized that he was going to have to make her many, many more.

  Epilogue

  Ceran-Pax, Curizan home world one year later….

  Ben was checking the soil in the newly plowed field when he suddenly looked up. He slowly rose to his feet and put his fingers to his mouth. A loud whistle let Aaron know they had company.

  His eyes softened on the slightly rounded figure of his wife. She was talking animatedly with several women from the small village where they had settled. Hanine was walking toward him with two men who had just purchased some of the ‘hay’ they harvested earlier.

  “She’s as beautiful today as she was yesterday,” Aaron murmured, coming to stand n
ext to Ben.

  Ben laughed and slapped his brother on the shoulder. “You say that every day, bro. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were in love.”

  “Yeah, you’d think that,” Aaron grinned as Hanine looked up at him and smiled before raising her eyebrow at him and holding out her right hand.

  Aaron looked down at her hand when she opened it. Three bears sat in it. One large, one medium and one… his throat closed up as he saw the baby bear between them. His eyes flew to hers and a slow grin spread across his face before he ran the last few feet to her and swung her around with a loud laugh.

  Yes, he thought as he looked up into her shining face. Dreams really can come true.

  Authors Note: I hope you enjoyed Ben and Aaron’s story. They were first introduced in Cornering Carmen: Dragon Lords of Valdier Book 5.

  The Marastin Dow world has been one of violence where survival depended on strength and cunning. As more of their people are exposed to the cultures of others, the dynamics have begun to change and the younger generation is demanding a better world for their people. Future stories will follow this revolution.

  If you loved this story by me (S. E. Smith) please leave a review. You can also take a look at additional books and sign up for my newsletter at http://sesmithfl.com and http://sesmithya.com to hear about my latest releases or keep in touch using the following links:

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