Guardian [New World Book 6] Read online

  Now that’s an introduction.

  The kiss shook her to the point she almost collapsed. When Roam leaned away from her, he smiled and winked at her. Somehow he knew what she was thinking; she could see it in his expression. It wasn’t confidence, he wasn’t being smug; he was acting like, like…he was acting like Taz did with Macey. Except looking over at Taz and Macey, Jinx could see Taz was being unusually un-Taz-like. His hand was cupping Macey’s face in the sweetest gesture. Taz was never mean and always gentle with Macey, but this was extreme, something Roam would do. What was this, Freaky Friday?

  “Roam are you all right?” Jinx asked.

  “I feel liberated.”

  “Liberated?”

  “I’m fine, Jinx.”

  Thunder crashed outside making Jinx jump. A multitude of golf ball sized hail bounced off the ground in front of the cave entrance. Roam and Taz sealed them in by pulling the partitions closed again. Everyone had been adding to the wood doors. Vines held the poles together. Reeds and ferns were laced through any cracks.

  Roam stoked the wood stove while Taz added firewood to the pit. A roasted haunch of meat turned lazily over the fire pit, with everyone taking a turn at making sure their dinner didn’t burn. In a pot situated on a pole structure hanging over the fire, turtle soup cooked. Water boiled for tea in a pot on the stove. Even though Jinx hated being confined, she felt warm and safe.

  She was a little shocked when Roam strolled over and sat so close their hips touched. He seemed void of the personal space he once craved. When he gazed into her eyes, Jinx stared back. His hand lifted to slide down her arm. Right to her toes, she tingled with the fine hairs on the nape of her neck standing tall. The warmth of his hand seeped into her skin. Power, she felt power radiate from him. Which was odd, she thought he was powerful from the second she first met him. It was the feeling now that was different.

  It took only a second for Jinx to realize what was different. Roam had come to a conclusion when he was out with Taz. He was no longer uncertain. The way his eyes blazed into hers, she knew what he had decided. He wanted her; he wasn’t about to go anywhere without her. His intensity was a little disturbing; no man had ever devoured the sight of Jinx before. Roam looked as though he was savoring a meal.

  “You keep staring at the poor child like that and she might melt into a puddle,” Aunt Greta said and winked at Jinx.

  Jinx went red; the hot hue crept up her face. Both Haven and Skylar giggled. Roam turned in a lazy way to study Greta.

  “Well, I guess we have enough puddles forming outside.”

  Greta seemed taken aback by Roam’s intense stare as well. She fanned her face with a green fern fan. The way Roam’s fingers closed over Jinx’s, she knew if they were alone Roam and she would be acting out every one of her naughty delicious fantasies.

  Damn storm.

  When Roam casually glanced back at her, she could see he was thinking the same thing.

  * * * *

  “The sun is trying to come out. We’ll only be gone an hour. Taz, please, I’m dying being cooped up so long,” Jinx knew she was whining and didn’t care.

  The week they had spent confined in the cave was becoming brutal. There was such thing as a case of too much togetherness. Taz was back to his old annoying, domineering self. Making certain he knew where his harem was every second, of every day, of every week. Hovering, looming over everyone’s shoulder. He might as well have been a pesky case of dandruff they couldn’t get rid of.

  Roam had his moments but was better controlled. Roam had developed a wonderful rapport with Macey. So much so Jinx wondered why Taz hadn’t clocked him. But Taz surprisingly didn’t mind one bit. The tolerance the two men showed—the respect, admiration—it was mind boggling. Overnight, the two men seemed as close as brothers.

  The oddest thing about Roam was when Jinx spoke to him he understood what she was feeling, even before she spoke the words. He was sympathetic about her father’s death, angry at the Castian who stole her sister. Everything he said was right. It was as if he had traveled the same path she had for the last four years. Taz must have told him all about her.

  “It’s all right, Taz. I’ll keep a close eye on her,” Roam said coming to Jinx’s rescue.

  “Don’t stay out long. The reprieve doesn’t usually last more than a few hours,” Taz warned.

  Jinx had Roam’s hand and was out the cave entrance the second Taz finished his sentence. Before they had gone too far, the sun slipped back behind a cloud. Everywhere Jinx looked, water dripped. The ground was soggy and soon her feet were wet. Wherever clothing touched by the foliage as they moved leaves out of their way was instantly soaked.

  “Jinx, I don’t think we’ll find anything edible out here. Everything looks drowned or close to it. You’re lucky the cave is built higher off the ground or everything in it would be drenched or floating,” Roam said.

  Jinx was thinking the same thing. Her worry was growing. “Do you think we’ll make it to your home okay?”

  “I’m certain.”

  “Is it very far? It’s going to be hard traveling with a young child and older woman. And if you can keep a secret, I swear Macey must be pregnant. Her boobs seem to have exploded into melons overnight.”

  Roam chuckled. “I don’t spend a lot of time staring at another male’s female’s chest. She is beautiful, glowing. I scent worry from her.”

  “Scent?” Jinx thought that was an odd thing to say. He must have meant sense.

  “I think being cooped up for so long, I can smell everyone’s emotions a great deal,” Roam said and smiled.

  “True enough,” Jinx replied, she was feeling a little ripe. They were able to bathe with pots but it had been awhile since she had been able to jump into her favorite pond. “Damn, here comes the fog.”

  Like a wave of damp air, the area around them changed from semi-dark to eerie pea soup. The thick fog obscured Jinx’s vision. Her hand was held in Roam’s tight grip. She stayed close to him wondering how he could plod along so sure-footedly when she stumbled every few feet. The afternoon had turned dreary, cold. Jinx knew they were lost. The odd jungle sounds were creepier when she couldn’t determine what was making noise. A bird? A gator?

  “What are we looking for?” Jinx whispered.

  “A place to stay until the day clears.”

  “What if it doesn’t?”

  “Then we’ll spend the night out here. Don’t worry, there’s a cave up there.”

  “How can you see anything out here?”

  “Uh, over there, can’t you just make out an outline of a cave?”

  Jinx peered through the fog, her eyes straining. Barely could she see the dark hole in the distance. She felt better until the deep guttural roar of a lion split the air. Her arms dotted in goose bumps, the fine hairs on her neck stood tall. Every drop of saliva dried in her mouth. Roam urged her onwards. If she came any closer to him she’d be in his back pocket.

  Jinx peered into the cave. Her fingers held Roam’s hand in a death grip, her other hand clutched his bicep. Roam moved into the darkness, taking her with him. Outside, a clap of thunder boomed across the sky. Jinx could feel her heart hammer in her chest. She could feel the subtle moisture of Roam’s skin pressed so solidly against hers.

  “How do we know nothing dangerous is in here?” Jinx whispered.

  “I know.”

  Jinx was about to ask him how he knew then clamped her lips closed. He had no way of knowing, he was only thinking of her feelings. Roam went further until they reached the back of the cave. Jinx could almost make out the outline of his face. He appeared to be smiling.

  “Are you grinning?” she asked.

  “It’s alright, Jinx. I won’t let anything hurt you—Taz would kill me.”

  True.

  She also felt a sensation of disappointment. As she got to know Roam, she realized her liking of the man had grown deeper. With her body pressed so close to his she felt his warmth, his strength; it felt nice.

>   Rain began to pour down in a deluge, bouncing off the saturated ground which splatted down then upwards as though there was no more room in a full cup. The water made rivulets into open cracks and proved victorious as the earth opened, accepting the invasion as though no longer willing to deny a passionate lover entry.

  “We’ll be fine in here.” Jinx heard Roam’s words, deep, throaty.

  When she turned to gaze at him, she felt more than saw his face begin its descent toward hers. His warm breath was close enough to feel on her cheek. She knew what he was going to do, she wanted him to. When her lips met his, her mouth exploded in a smorgasbord of passion. Who knew a man’s tongue could make love to her mouth. Without knowing how it happened she was seated on his lap. Jinx could feel his stiff erection press against her bottom.

  Jinx wanted him on top of her but she felt his hesitation. Something held him back. Jinx felt she knew what it was; he didn’t want to betray Taz. But Taz had Macey. Jinx wanted love, real love between a man and a woman.

  “Jinx,” Roam sounded desperate.

  “Taz doesn’t own me.”

  “It’s not Taz. There is something you should know about me, something important you need to know.”

  “It can wait. Having you so close for days has been wonderful. Getting to know how understanding you are, what kind of man you are. Now I want to know more of you, all of you.”

  Once more Jinx found his mouth with her own. She tasted him. If comfort had a taste this would be it. Safety, passion. Everything was sweet. Jinx was a virgin. There hadn’t been time for play when the world went to shit. Right now everything was perfect, Roam was perfect, even the dark cave was perfect.

  Roam broke the kiss abruptly. “Jinx before I can’t stop I need to tell you I’m not what I appear to be. I’m different from a regular man.”

  Jinx had her pants and shirt off. She tugged at Roam’s shirt and with a groan she yanked it over his head. Her fingers fumbled with his pants. He swore when his cock sprung free and Jinx touched the first man of her life. He was so soft and hard. For a second she held still.

  Are men really this big?

  Roam was huge. That must be what he wanted to tell her. Of course men came in different sizes. Roam only wanted to warn her to keep from scaring her. Well she wasn’t scared. Roam was everything she wanted in a man. Jinx didn’t take sex lightly, she wanted love. Having a man inside of her was going to be the most intimate act she could think of. Sharing her body, becoming one with another. Her heart beat to the sound of the drumming rain. Roam moaned when Jinx dragged him on top of her.

  His body was a mass of solid flesh pressing her down into the soft, cool, dirt cave floor. Power rippled between his shoulder blades while he struggled to keep most of his weight from her. Jinx thought he looked heavy—he was a steel machine.

  When she felt his fingers between her thighs Jinx tensed. A finger, gentle, cautious, probed within her. The sensation was fear, excitement, want. Jinx could hear Roam whispering things, little things that made no sense.

  “Let me inside you.”

  He was inside her, his finger was testing her depth while she groaned and hung tight to his broad shoulders. Other sensations accompanied the feeling of invasion. Jinx felt trust ooze from his moist skin. She couldn’t explain it. This must be what he meant; his body was coated in a welcoming sheen of moisture. Like the ground, she opened to let the rain in. Since Jinx had never made love, she didn’t know what he did was a Castian trait. A substance secreted to calm a mate, not coerce, but lull them into wanting a joining.

  “The must is too high,” Roam mumbled.

  Must?

  Jinx thought he meant his need, he must have her. Jinx smiled in the dark. If he must have her he should. She parted her thighs and guided his engorged cock to her heat. Roam buried his hands in her hair and thrust deep. Jinx screamed as her back arched. There was so much. She gasped ready to cry stop when a lovely wetness inside made her slick with easy penetration.

  Jinx felt she was being loved by the inside out. Every inch of her wanted Roam, she never wanted their loving to end. Her hips moved to collide with his. Until Roam pulled out and twisted her onto her belly. Jinx gasped as his forearm settled between her breasts pulling her higher.

  Jinx could hear Roam swearing under his breath; again he mentioned he must have her. He seemed to battle a great war within him as he loved her. Jinx felt the pressure then, his cock began to swell inside her. Jinx did cry out then. It was painful; he grew too big, her body tensed. She cried out his name.

  “It’s all right,” he soothed. Jinx felt his lips at her throat. For a split second she thought he had bitten her. Her body slumped; the pain grew once more to pleasure. His large size slipped in and out slowly. She wanted to rock back against him but her limbs were lethargic. His arms cradled her to his chest. His wonderful powerful chest was a life jacket in the storm.

  Roam was growling and grunting. His animalistic sounds spoke of the battle he seemed to fight within. His body shuddered and he pulled out as he roared his release. Roam dropped to his side taking her with him. Jinx was exhausted.

  “So hard to control,” Roam was muttering as she drifted off. “No mating, no baby. So hard.”

  Jinx slipped into sleep. Of course she didn’t want a baby. It was fine for Taz and Macey, but this planet was just too frightening and dangerous to even consider having a child—even if it was Roam’s.

  * * * *

  When Roam opened his eyes the fog was clearing but the storm still raged. He settled Jinx closer to him. Her warm skin pressed to his. She was dreaming, he could tell, he scented her emotions. Secretions in Roam’s skin automatically produced a calming hormone to comfort her. If she were his mate he could simply go to her in her dreams.

  Roam felt so many emotions battling within him. He couldn’t make her mate with him; she had to know what he was. His seed had spilled to the cave floor hurting his soul. They could have made them a son. He grieved for a child he would never know. He couldn’t do this again unless she agreed to be his mate.

  Jinx’s emotions were so turbulent it took so much energy to keep her calm. Like Roam, she had been a virgin. She would undoubtedly laugh if he told her. An eight-hundred-year-old virgin? She would be surprised to know it was common on their planet. Especially since the females were poisoned four hundred years ago. Some four-hundreds might experiment with a female, but most females wanted the older, experienced warriors to take as mates. By rights, Roam should be mating this must cycle. It was his time.

  Thankfully, Slay had told him intimate details about how he and Tia mated so Roam was somewhat experienced. It was polite to stay out of a warrior mate’s intimate memories, but Roam peeked occasionally. With Taz and Macey near, Roam scented their lovemaking. Because Macey was pregnant, Taz was no longer in must, he was caring and gentle with the babe’s scent high within the mother.

  Since their warrior mating, Roam’s feelings toward Macey were protective; she still exuded the savory scent a pregnant female has, but Roam’s thoughts were pure toward her. Taz scented Roam’s emotions and welcomed them. Since their mating, Taz was comfortable around Roam, he had to be; Roam was now a part of him. Warrior battling would come easy for Taz even though he had never battled as a team. Like Slay and Roam if need be, Taz would have Roam’s back. Roam knew Slay and Taz would join when they returned.

  Roam wasn’t concerned about being away from the others. Taz would sense both he and Jinx were fine. He would be able to calm any worry from the others. Macey’s senses were heightened because a Tonan babe was inside of her. Roam had loved the way the babe now welcomed his presence. It would be interesting to see if the new little one would develop a razor claw with the ability to cut through armor.

  The cave was chilly and Roam draped his t-shirt over Jinx’s shoulders. Before first light, he would have to retrieve it; he couldn’t chance her seeing his nipple-free chest. Their other clothing lay beneath them. Roam nuzzled her neck and could make out the tw
o small puncture marks he had made with his fangs. He hadn’t been able to control his must. His cock had swelled with the power of his armor, readying to give a piece of himself to his babe.

  Her blood had mixed with his secretions when he first entered her. Her body joined with him in a way no human male and female did. She was a part of him; they flowed through each other’s veins. Scent and sense were everything to a Castian. Roam held onto the feeling as long as he could. It would vanish because they hadn’t mated. When they mated she would run through his veins until the day they died.

  Roam now had a taste of what it felt like to have a female. Somehow he would have to make Jinx love him enough to trust him. If he could ease her into accepting Castians weren’t the foul creatures she thought them to be, she would mate him. Curling his body comfortably closer to her, Roam closed his eyes. He wouldn’t sleep, but he wanted peace for a short time. There was a place he could go in his thoughts where he could think. It took him seconds to call up the memories, and for the next few hours, he sat under his favorite tree in the brilliant heat of the two suns on Bagron. He watched the holograms of the beautiful mammoths play in hologram snow. He couldn’t wait to show Jinx this place.

  As light began to permeate the cave, Roam slid his t-shirt from Jinx and yanked it over his head. He eased his pants out from under her and pulled them on. His armor came up to cover his feet in the black sandals. Jinx yawned and rubbed at her eyes. She went red when she noted he was dressed and she was still naked. With the color high on her cheeks she was beautiful. Her rounded breasts bobbed when she snatched her shirt. She had to stand up to tug her pants on, dancing around the cave comically. She fell onto her ass as she put her shoes on.