Page 57 of Chieftain
“Delicious.” His voice was almost a purr. “Human is mine now.”
The way the Kerzak held me, with his crotch pressed just under my breasts, I felt a twitch from his nether regions, giving me an idea. Assholes were assholes, no matter the species. Turning my head, I sought Khaion's gaze.
He wasn't struggling, but I could see the flex of muscles in his arms and chest, gauging the strength of the four guards holding him. The Aljani put on a good show, but Khaion could dispatch them as easily as the other guards, except Nansar, who held a knife on me, and now the Kerzak had me in his grip.
Our eyes met, and a strange awareness swept through me as though I could feel Khaion inside my mind. I cut my eyes at the Kerzak, letting the steps of my plan play out in my imagination. Khaion shifted his eyes to the guards before flashing to where Nansar hobbled about, trying to walk off the pain of my attack. I glanced blatantly at the Kerzak's crotch, then back to Khaion. His eyes narrowed, his lips twisted with displeasure, but his head dipped in near imperceptible agreement.
I turned fully into the Kerzak, pressing my breasts against his lower belly. "Hey, tall, dark, and fuzzy. I know you think I'll taste like a juicy steak, but I have a better idea." I reached upward, playfully trailing my fingers down Utar's chest, ignoring Khaion's low growl.
Nansar barked a mocking laugh. “She might have a point, Utar. Didn’t I hear one of your warriors mated with a human?”
The Kerzak’s face grimaced with disgust. “A weakling, we have banished him.”
“Too bad,” I sighed, wriggling against the walking, talking, terrifying teddy bear that smelled like a combination of wet dog and sewer. Despite his words, I felt the hardness of his cock grow against my stomach.Fuck!The damn thing felt as big around as my thigh already, but I needed him as hard as he could get. I let my fingers trail over his chest again, dipping teasingly toward his stomach, and he grew harder… and larger still.
Utar purred, and the hands holding me grew strangely gentle. He bent, nuzzling the side of my neck. This time, a touch of his hot, slimy tongue accompanied the inhale. Swallowing back bile, I leaned into the smelly fur, relaxing against him before jerking my knee upward.
I would undoubtedly have a bruise from where my knee slammed into the rock-hard appendage, but it did the trick. Utar howled in agony, and I jerked free, staggering back just as Khaion's bellowedRunreverberated through the air.
I scrambled as Khaion executed a graceful backflip, like a Cirque de Solei performer, ridding himself of the guard's grasp. He drew his blades before his feet hit the ground, felling the remaining Aljani guard with a few slashes.
Then Khaion turned to Utar.
I took cover behind a thick stone column, shivering as I watched Khaion and Utar circle each other like rabid lions. I noticed Nansar running for the villa from the corner of my eye.
Chicken shit!
"You are a good fighter," Utar's growl brought my attention back to the burgeoning battle. "Not as good as Utar. I will kill you and take the human as my own. She will bear me many sons, and they will partake of her flesh to grow strong."
I swallowed back a wave of revulsion, my attention flickering to Khaion. He was stone-faced—anger and determination were the only emotions allowed. He shucked the leather jacket from his body in order to move more freely, muscles rippling as he tensed for an attack. Utar was larger, but Khaion didn't rely on size and brute strength. He was well-trained and highly skilled. Not only that, he was fighting to protect me, something I knew would not be a distraction but a strength.
Utar struck first, the clang of his sword against Khaion’s blades deafening. Khaion was faster and spun, slashing back with both blades. Utar blocked, using his brawn to push Khaion away before raising his sword to swing overhanded at my mate.
My mate.
Just thinking the words tugged at my heart. Khaion might never claim me publicly, but in my heart and soul, the word lived, with all its meaning. Less than a month ago, I was still on Earth—still so bitter about my divorce I couldn't think about trusting another man. But Khaion wasn't another man. Hewas just more—more loyal, more devoted, more loving, more trustworthy, just more everything. My feelings for him were more, too. More than I thought I could ever feel for anyone. His presence filled my heart and soul with warmth and contentment unlike anything I had ever experienced. His touch sent an electric tingle throughout my body that left me feeling connected to him in a way I never felt connected to another person.
A furious roar jerked me back to the action.
I noticed quickly the scream was a sound of frustration. The Kerzak, besides his sword, had two paw-hands tipped with razor-sharp claws. He was using them, swiping wildly as he switched the sword from hand to hand. Khaion moved wickedly fast, and despite the Utar’s determination, he didn’t land a single blow.
Until I moved.
Crouching behind the wide stone column with the pool at my back wasn’t the best vantage point. I stepped to the side, bringing myself out into the open a fraction of an inch, my boots scuffing on the stone patio. It was enough to draw Khaion’s attention for a split-second, and more than enough opportunity for Utar to land a swipe, five lines of blood welling across Khaion’s chest.
Khaion gave a roar, more aggravation than pain, I noticed. He lunged, capturing Utar's single blade against both of his, and with a flick of the wrist, the Kerzak's blade went clanging against the cobblestones. Khaion and Utar stared at each other for a long moment, both panting with exertion. With a slow, graceful movement, Khaion sheathed his blades.
“No!” I screamed at him to stop. I believed Khaion, but he shouldn't give up the advantage. The slow, dangerous smile spreading across my mate's face stilled me. This was Khaion, the warrior trained for blood and death. He lifted his chin and bellowed a battle cry that made the pool slosh and ripple and shook the surrounding columns.
The next few moments were a flurry of swinging fists, roars, grunts, and groans. As if this moment alone contained all of war in a few heart-stopping seconds. They lunged at each other, throwing punches that were met with equal strength and ferocity. Arms flew in arcs of attack as they circled around each other, shouting insults and taunts with every blow.
Utar had a longer reach, the razor-sharp claws leaving deep rakes of blood across my mate’s pelt. Khaion didn't slow, though blood trailed down his arms and chest like ivy vines crawling up a tree. If anything, the injuries strengthened his resolve. He dove at Utar's slashing arm, using it as leverage to flip himself upon the Kerzak's back, his muscular arms wrapping around the furry head.
Utar's spine gave a sickening crunch as it broke. His black eyes flashed with astonishment before going dim as his massive body fell to the ground, his neck bent, and his head tilted like a wet rag doll wrung out by an impatient child.
"Khaion!" I ran, flinging myself into his arms, heedless of the blood smearing over my clothes and skin. Khaion released a deep sigh of exhaustion as his arms came tightly around me, and he buried his face in my neck, inhaling deeply.
I assumed his low grunt was from the ravages of battle until his knees gave way, and he slumped in my arms.
