Shield [New World Book 1] Read online

  “These are of no use at all,” he declared.

  “You’d be surprised,” she muttered.

  “Perhaps on a human male with no shield,” he said.

  “What was that on you?”

  Rask shrugged. “My Castian armor. I’ve had it my entire life.”

  Rask leaned closer and sniffed her. Grace shied back. Handsome he might be, but he had killed two of her crew members. Granted she had only known the men a week; one had been a complete asshole and a killer. But Adams was only trying to protect her. Rask eyed her.

  “You smell of fear, but it has lessened. The scent I could not make out but do now is your female scent. Now that my brain has been reminded of it, there are strange feelings awakening inside me.”

  Grace could see that. Whereas before he had looked baffled, now a new predatory gleam lit his face. She jumped when his nose nuzzled her neck and his tongue flicked out to taste her skin. He licked at her ear. A deep growling groan was dragged from his throat. Grace’s heart pounded in her chest. His head lifted and his eyes were closed. He looked drunk, with his face flushed. To Grace’s horror, his fangs began to grow. She cried out and his eyes snapped open.

  “Don’t be afraid.”

  His voice was deep and throaty and sounded like a growl.

  “Don’t bite me,” she pleaded.

  “I won’t hurt you. I don’t mean to scare you. A male Castian’s fangs grow when they are in must and their armor isn’t needed. Your female scent has triggered it now that I know what it is and what you are. By the Gods of Dargon, you smell so good. Your scent has invaded my entire being like a brand of hot iron.”

  He inhaled her again.

  “Well knock it off,” she demanded. She knew what ‘must’ was, it was sexual overdrive and he looked like he was ready to devour her.

  “I can’t help it,” he growled. “I have never felt this before and it’s so hard to control. Come to me, female.”

  Grace yelped when he gripped her. His hand buried into her hair and he pulled her closer, his fingers squeezing her locks. Grace pushed at him. She could feel his fangs at her neck. She was certain he was about to rip her apart. She whimpered unable to break free. A groan or growl erupted from his throat. Rask’s body molded to hers. She could feel his sweat. Droplets of moisture mixed with her own and she could feel it seep into her body. Her blood flowed faster through her veins taking his moisture with it, mingling with her, claiming her. And though she still felt a small amount of fear, she had no desire now to move away.

  What is wrong with me? A big horny alien was all over her and Grace felt like a puddle of mush.

  Rask’s bare chest was slick and warm when Grace’s hands trailed over him. Every second she was calming further. Once again he inhaled her scent. As she became more compliant, he became more demanding with his touch. Grace was confused. His hands roamed up and down her body, but he made no effort to lay her beneath him or kiss her. He was fumbling with her while she was growing wet between her legs. He made no effort to touch her breasts or remove her clothes.

  “Rask?”

  Another male alien appeared from the bush. Rask snarled, his eyes went wild and his armor went up.

  Grace screamed.

  The other man’s armor went up.

  Rask yanked Grace behind him. The grip on her wrist was too tight and she pulled against him. As though sensing her distress, he loosened his hold, but she was unable to pull away. Now that their skin wasn’t connected, Grace felt her fear return. She wriggled to get free, but he held her easily.

  “Stay back,” Rask growled at the other man.

  “Rask, what the hell is wrong with you? Why are you speaking the ancient tongue?”

  “This is my female,” Rask snarled. “It is how she speaks.”

  “Female?”

  The other man-creature peeked around Rask as Grace trembled. She yanked her wrist harder.

  “Yes, female,” Rask replied. He gave his head a hard shake and his armor disappeared. He gasped in a heavy breath. The other man dropped his shield as well.

  “Are you all right?” the other man asked.

  “I think so, Tosk, maybe,” Rask replied.

  He released Grace’s wrist.

  “I have never been this close to a female before. My body went into must. What an odd feeling. I have never lost control; my shield has never reacted this way. You know I have never drawn armor on you.”

  “Must?”

  Rask nodded.

  “This is one of the intruders?” Tosk asked.

  “Yes. There could be more human females out there. We need to spread the word that these beings are harmless. They have no shield. One blow will kill them.”

  “An entire race of females landed?” Tosk looked incredulous.

  “No, not all are female. I killed two males who attacked me. I had no idea they were so fragile,” Rask said.

  “Perhaps it’s best if we go back to our holding,” Tosk said.

  “I don’t think so,” Grace whispered and began to back away.

  One lusty alien was bad enough but a bunch was too much. One whiff of her and she would be naked. The other man was just as big as Rask. His hair was the same length, but he was blond and his eyes were a stunning emerald green.

  Rask turned to study her. He reached for her and gripped her hand in his own. “It’s all right, Grace. I have control over it now.”

  “But will the others? How many of you are there?” she asked.

  “There are many at each holding,” Rask said. “You will be safe. Tosk and I are leaders there.”

  “You share leadership?” she asked with a sinking feeling in her belly.

  “Each Castian is born seeking a partner. Tosk is mine. We lead together, and we battle together. We have to battle back-to-back. When we first train as warriors we are drawn to someone; we have no choice. It isn’t just our way, it’s instinct for survival.”

  “You sleep together?” she asked.

  “We have separate quarters,” Rask said.

  “No,” she mumbled with some embarrassment. “I mean do you, you know, sleep together?”

  Rask looked confused. “I just told you we sleep apart.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with it,” Grace said.

  “Wrong with what?”

  “If you have sex with each other,” she muttered.

  Rask cocked his head to the side. “Grace, the men here have only come into their prime. The word you use, sex, I’m uncertain of its meaning. It has to do with our maleness, I’m guessing. I have never used my maleness.”

  Grace’s eyes rose in surprise. He’s never had sex before? She had only assumed because he had never seen a woman that he and Tosk must be lovers. It was apparent they weren’t. Together in battle and life but not love.

  “I smell your confusion,” Rask said. “Come with me. I will keep you safe.”

  Grace had no choice when Rask wrapped an arm around her and tossed her over his shoulder. His armor went up and with rapid speed, he jumped from tree to ground to tree gaining distance with Tosk only a leap behind. Grace had never moved so fast in her life.

  * * * *

  Grace looked around the domed primitive-looking cave-like structure. It was at least ten feet high. It was covered with huge intricate light brown branches. The branches looked woven together to form a beaver dam of sorts. But these branches were as thick as tree trunks. Inside was just as amazing. And if the outside looked primitive, the inside was anything but. Panels of flashing lights lit up the entire area. Consoles with lines of buttons bleeped and chirped. It was fascinating. These aliens were far more advanced than the people of Earth.

  It didn’t take long before Grace was pressed into Rask’s side as the men left their positions to curiously check her out. Each man was dressed as Rask. Bare-chested, with black pants that hugged their hips to their ankles. None of them wore shoes. All had well-defined penises that strained against the material. Good God, she was surrounded by men w
ho had never had sex or seen a woman. It was a nightmare. Every one of them was massive.

  A low growl came from a man who was very close. Grace shuddered. He, too, was dark-haired. His approach was cautious. He was sniffing her. Fearfully, she looked up at Rask then wished she hadn’t—his fangs were back.

  “What is this thing?” the close man asked.

  “This thing is female, Brack, and she’s mine,” Rask snarled.

  “Female?” Brack exclaimed.

  “Listen to me!” Rask shouted. “In the woods a vessel has crashed. These creatures are human and they are defenseless against us. There are both male and female of the species still running about. I suggest you go look for them before the other holdings get wind of them.”

  “Or a whiff of her,” Brack said.

  Grace could hear her teeth clicking together as Brack inhaled her scent. He groaned and then growled deep in his throat. His eyes closed and he inhaled again. His fangs grew and he looked drunk. Oh oh. Before his eyes could open, Rask was on top of him. Both men had their shields up in an instant. Tosk separated them.

  “Enough,” Tosk snapped. “She belongs to Rask. Go find your own.”

  With a roar and a snap of his fangs in her direction, Brack leaped from the holding.

  Grace was amazed at the speed with which these men moved. Their claw-like feet, when in armor, gripped the ground beneath them to give them greater momentum. Like a massive, armored lemur that jumped from tree to tree. Every man soon followed. It was unnerving to see so many powerful men under black armor that hugged them like a second skin.

  When they left, Rask gripped her elbow and led her to a steel door. With a wave of his hand, it opened. Once inside, the door slammed shut. Grace was trapped. She backed up until she fell onto a bed. Her hands splayed as he approached her. She could once more see his fangs. Grace swallowed hard.

  Rask leaped up onto the high bed and sniffed at her.

  Grace pushed at him. The man had no sense of personal space. His face buried into her neck.

  “Your fangs,” she squealed.

  “They show dominance to you and predator to any male who comes near you,” he said.

  His tone was deep and throaty.

  “I feel like I’m about to be eaten,” she said and glared at him. “Put the teeth away.”

  “I’m not certain I can,” he replied. “It must be instinct.”

  Grace was skeptical.

  Rask reached for her shirt.

  “Stop that,” she insisted.

  “I am curious as to what these things are,” he replied innocently.

  “They’re called breasts,” she said primly while fending off his hands. She had scooted back as far as she could until her back pressed against a wall; it too was spongy. The further back she pressed, the closer Rask came with a predatory crawl.

  Grace braced her hands on his shoulders. He was rock-hard and broad. There was no underarm hair on him. She strained against him. He didn’t budge. My God he’s heavy. Grace pulled her foot up and shoved it into his chest. Her knee pressed back into her own chest as he moved closer. Rask was too persistent. Her shirt was soon over her head and he studied her openly. His eyes went lower to within inches of her nipples. Grace understood his curiosity, after all hers too was aroused. She hadn’t noticed before but Rask didn’t have nipples like the men of Earth. His hard chest was smooth and bare of anything, even hair. He eyed her nipples as they puckered and the buds hardened in the cooler air. She could feel his hot expelled breath on them. His finger reached out and pushed one like a button. Both Grace’s and his eyes widened. Hers because he had done it; his because the bud sprang back into place when released. Grace flamed red.

  “You’re embarrassed,” he exclaimed.

  “Well duh, you’re gaping at me.”

  “I won’t hurt you.”

  “How do you know if you’ve never been with a woman? And men shouldn’t go around pushing women’s nipples. They’re not ‘on’ switches you know.”

  “Teach me.”

  “What?”

  “Teach me so I will know and won’t hurt you. Teach me how to touch you. Your body is so soft and fragile and so compelling. It has neat little holes and colors and interesting things to touch.”

  “You killed two of my crew members.”

  “An unfortunate accident. I would not have harmed them if they hadn’t attacked me first. You know I’m telling the truth because I didn’t hurt you. Were you fond of them?”

  “That’s not the point.”

  Rask frowned and sniffed her. “You feared one. The other you felt sorry for.”

  Grace was amazed. “How could you know?” she whispered. Can he read minds?

  Rask shrugged. “I am able to smell your human emotions very well. It is a Castian trait to scent those around us. We can’t, uh, what is it humans call it? Lie?”

  Grace wondered about that. How odd would it be to belong to a race who always told the truth? While she was distracted, Rask felt her breasts again. She jumped but settled. The look on his face was plain curiosity, nothing more. His hands were warm and damp with a light sweat. Very carefully he squeezed and released. His thumb stroked back and forth across her nipple making her squirm.

  “What curious but pleasant things to touch. These flower buds are such a pretty color. I wish I had them.”

  Grace’s eyes widened in surprise and she couldn’t help a small giggle as a mental picture of this mountain of a man with soft, luscious melon-sized boobs popped into her mind.

  “Nature in its infinite wisdom didn’t give men tits or they would do nothing but play with them all day,” she retorted and removed his hands. She struggled with her emotions. She should be terrified of this huge alien. Oddly, she wasn’t.

  Rask shifted then shifted again, squirming before her. His face screwed into a strange look. Grace looked down at his growing erection. Rask looked, too, and his eyes widened in shocked surprise.

  “Oh no.”

  “What’s wrong?” she asked. If she didn’t know better, she would swear he was scared.

  “My maleness!” he yelled. “What the hell is wrong with my cock?”

  Grace couldn’t help it, she burst out laughing. When he looked at her with confused hurt, she sighed. “It’s all right, you have a hard-on.”

  “My cock is growing a new shield?”

  “Hmm, that’s one way of looking at it.”

  Rask stripped his pants off. He starred openmouthed at his dick. “That is an impressive shield.”

  Grace had to agree.

  “If you keep playing with it like that, you’ll never know what it’s really for,” Grace said dryly.

  “It’s magnificent,” Rask said in awe. “It’s so hard and long. But it throbs.”

  “It’s what happens to a man when he is ready to have sex with a female.”

  “Amazing. Now show me yours.”

  “Not the romantic type, are you?”

  “Does your sex come out and grow?”

  “Didn’t your mother teach you about this stuff?”

  “I don’t remember my mother. She died when I was very young. It was almost four hundred years ago. All of the females were gone. They are extinct on my planet. My father had no need to explain this sex thing.”

  “Good grief. I’m in bed with a four-hundred-year-old virgin?”

  Rask groaned again. Grace removed his hand from his cock and put her own on it. Rask yelped when she squeezed. Grace’s shoes and socks went flying across the room. He paused only for a brief moment to examine her toes, declaring her feet to be tiny as he wiggled her baby toe. Rask then ripped at her pants. His expression was so filled with confusion Grace wasn’t concerned—at least not overly concerned.

  “Easy, slow down,” she soothed.

  “I can’t. Something is supposed to happen.”

  “But it must happen slowly,” she insisted. “Rask, you’re a very big man. You have to be careful.”

  “I will. I will.”
His panting intensified.

  Somehow that was hard for her to believe. Especially when his fangs accidently nipped her flesh high on her outer thigh. Her pants came completely off with a hard tug and Rask spread her legs wide. He inhaled deeply. Rask looked and looked then grew concerned. His confused gaze settled onto her.

  “Please make your sex come out,” he pleaded.

  He made it sound like a play date! “My sex doesn’t come out; it stays in,” she informed him.

  Rask sat back on his heels and looked disappointed. He dragged his hand across his face. He then looked at her hopefully.

  “If I try real hard and retract my fangs, will it come out? I won’t bite it.”

  Grace giggled. “I think you’re right about your fangs being instinct.”

  Rask looked crestfallen. Grace felt sorry for him. She had been terrified in the woods that the man-beast would rape her. Now she knew he wouldn’t have known how. It was sweet, his confusion and helplessness. She had to admit his innocence was a turn-on. He wasn’t grabbing her breasts or trying to swallow them down his throat. He just looked lost. And so handsome, even with the spooky fangs. It would be interesting to be in charge for once. Men on Earth felt they had nothing to lose if they raped a woman. There had been lawlessness. Rask wasn’t forcing her under him, nor was he demanding she submit. He hadn’t lied when he had said he would protect her—he had. If the console on the shuttle was broken, Grace would be here forever.

  “Come here and lie down,” Grace instructed, deciding on her course of action. If he had never had sex there would be no one to compare her with. After this, she vowed he would never let any other man get near her. It was simple survival really; it had nothing to do with Rask being the hottest guy she had ever seen or the strange feeling she had in the pit of her belly when he touched her.