Page 16 of My Alien Bughead
“Two on the right,” Tareq echoes.
That’s five. The headcount said six adults, plus one juvenile. We’re still missing two. I’m not discounting the juvenile. For all we know, it could be more dangerous than the adults.
The Serramorphs stop about two dozen feet from us, arranged into a half circle around the fake rock structure. Only now do I notice a darker space there. An opening, like a cave. Whatever it is, they’re set on protecting it.
They’re not making any aggressive movements toward us, merely blocking our path but I’m not fooled by their seemingly peaceful behavior. They’re myriapods, and each of their many pairs of legs ends in either sharp-looking pincers or claws. No doubt, they’d be able to shred a person to bits in mere seconds, if given a chance. I’m not planning on giving them that chance.
Lucía moves, as if she wants to pass around me but I sidestep to block her path. “Stay behind me,” I order.
“Pfft.” She snorts. “Who put you in charge, bughead?”
My grip on the rifle tightens until the plastic components squeak. “Listen,zeeva,” I all but snarl, provoking her with the animal nickname, “I—”
“Silence.” Zarkan moves forward until he’s face to face with the Serramorphs. Or rather, they’re face with his hips. He’s not visibly armed, though I’d bet my left ahni he has more than one weapon hidden on his body.
He holds the datapad in front of him. Some of the insects tilt their heads curiously, but none approach or make any threatening moves. Still, I keep my barrel trained on the bugs on the left, ready to take them down at the slightest sign of aggression. I know that Tareq is doing the same. We’ve been in the thick of things together so many times that when it comes to combat, we don’t have to verbally communicate anymore.
“I’m Zarkan,” our captain introduces himself. “I’m the captain of this ship.”
Disharmonic squeals and chirps come from the datapad as Cai translates Zarkan’s words. The Serramorphs edge closer, chirping and squeaking in response. After a short back and forth, Cai says, “They aren’t happy dealing with a male leader.”
“Of course they aren’t,” Astra says, shoving at Tareq. “Especially since these hotheads are aiming guns at them. I’ll talk to them.”
“Like hell you will.”
Tareq tries to stop her but she pierces him with such a fierce glare that he freezes in his tracks. “Try and stop me, tigerman,” she hisses, “and it will be just you and Lady Right Hand for a month.”
Tareq’s jaw works as he looks between Astra and the Serramorphs, then he huffs in defeat. Just as I expected, when push comes to shove, his mate is the one in charge. “Fine,” he grumbles. “But I’m coming with you.”
“Fine, but put the gun away first,” Astra commands. Tareq, whom I’ve seen face down hordes of armed-to-the-teeth Ataxi without a sliver of fear, capitulates without a word of protest. Seriously, mated males are the weakest creatures ever.
Motion behind me catches my attention and I glare at Lucía as she tries to follow Astra. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Chapter 11
Lucía
I cock my head,giving D’Aakh the chance to rethink his caveman attitude. Like thependejohe is, he doesn’t take the hint, continuing to block my way and preventing me from going with Astra.
Fine then. He chose his fate.
“Listen to me, ladybug, and listen carefully,” I snap, planting my hands on my hips and look straight into his eyes. For once, his dazzling sexiness isn’t affecting me in the slightest. “Unless the captain over there tells me not to go, I can go wherever the fuck I want to. Try to stop me again and see what happens.”
He’s back to his trademark sneering. “What? You’ll threaten to withhold sex from me?” He snorts. “I wouldn’t touch you with a ten-foot antimatter spanner wearing a biohazard suit.”
I should be offended. And I would be, if what he said was true but the swirling hunger in his eyes betrays very different emotions than just hate. Oh, he does hate me. But he also wants me and fuck if I don’t feel the same.
“No,” I say, putting as much threat into my voice as I can manage.
Stepping into his personal space, I breathe in his maddening scent. He smells like Angrian steel, engine grease, and something intoxicatingly male. The combination has my pussy clenching hungrily and my nipples tightening into sharp peaks.
He doesn’t move an inch, not even when I jab my finger into the middle of his chest. The chitin plating feels like steel and I know the muscles it covers aren’t much softer. “I don’t have to threaten to withhold sex from you.” I try to keep my voice threatening but it sounds like a sultry rasp even to my own ears. “Because I wouldn’t have sex with you even if you were the last male in existence. However…”
Without breaking eye contact, I slide my hand to my tool belt, easily locating the tool I’m after. To his credit, he doesn’t even flinch when I hold it up. Only the slightest color change of his antennae betrays his surprise.
“I have a fucking plasma cutter, bughead. And if you keep pissing me off, your dear Lady Right Hand won’t have anyone to date, because I’ll separate your crown jewels from your body.¿Comprendes?”
D’Aakh leans forward, his face just inches from mine. His lips are so close I can almost taste them, my mouth watering at the thought. My fingertip is no longer poking into his chest, now my entire hand is resting against the chitin plates covering hispectoral muscles. My fingers tighten on the fabric of his uniform, both wanting to push him awayandhold him close.
