Mated (The Sandaki Book 1) by Gwendolyn Cease Page B

, we must go.” He carefully folded the kerchief he’d cleaned her with and tucked it away. Then he swept her into his arms and started from the room. His voice held a low growl that rubbed against her like fine silk. Damn, he probably could make her come again by talking alone.
    “Go? Where? And my name isn’t tall-uh or whatever. It’s Laira. You can put me down. I can walk.” She squirmed in his arms, but he just tightened his hold on her.
    “Laira.” Growling her name, he nuzzled the soft skin of her neck. “We are going back to my ship. Talla means mate’s heart in Sandaki. And I prefer to carry you.”
    “What? Why? I have no clue what you’re talking about.”
    “Because you are my mate, by right of claiming, and I refuse to let you go.”
    Mate? What the fuck? “Wait a minute there, dude. I don’t even know you. Okay, I fucked you, but it’s not all my fault. I’m sure of it. Ever since I’ve been here…well whatever. Forget it. Just know I don’t normally let some guy screw me from behind, you know. Wait, that didn’t come out right. I didn’t mean fucking me in the butt, I meant…fuck, I have no idea what I meant.”
    His eyes darkened. “ Talla , soon you and I will know each other in every way possible. And you will scream with pleasure.”
    Laira wondered what she had gotten herself into.
     
    Rakin, Taj Katan of the Sandaki Empire, carried the flame-haired female who was now his mate. His body still hummed from the chase, and he longed to claim her again. Never before had a female made him feel the needs this small alien did. He told himself it was due to finding aliens within their system and capturing them; deep inside he knew this was not so. Only the hunt for a mate gave a Sandaki the rush he was feeling. He knew that it should not be possible an alien was his mate, but it was. She was his, and he would kill any who would dare touch her.
    He breathed deep, drawing her scent into his body. She smelled ripe. He wanted nothing more than to sink into her hot sheath again. Unfortunately now was not the time. They would have to wait until they reached his quarters on the Drakon Scaal . It would have to be soon though, because he could not delay for long, and judging by his mate’s movements and scent, she could not either.
    He found his Second-in-Command, Kavich, with three women. The three of them looked from him to the woman in his arms and scowled. Kavich quickly knelt before him, head bowed.
    “What have you done to her?” a woman with ebony skin demanded. “If you have hurt her, we will make sure you pay.”
    “She is my mate, and nothing about her is your concern,” he returned with a snarl.
    “She is our friend,” a girl covered in blue scales returned. “So everything about her is our concern.”
    Laira tried to struggle from his arms. “Knock it off. Dude, put me down. I can walk and talk for myself. I’m sick and tired of being man-handled.”
    Rakin looked at the four women so obviously from different worlds. What were they doing aboard a Silarin ship? He had a feeling he knew, but wanted it confirmed before he wiped the vermin from his space.
    “Tell me why you are with the Silarin.” He spoke to his mate as he eased her to the floor, ignoring the other women.
    “Gosh, I just couldn’t resist the Silarin’s invite.” She rolled her eyes when she was finally on her feet. “What do you think? They kidnapped me, the fuckers. They kidnapped all of us.” She shook her head in disgust. “You just broke up their little auction, as much fun as it was.”
    He scowled in anger. Scum like this had dared to enter his space. They would not live to regret it. He turned to the man who still knelt on the floor before him. “Kavich, make sure we rescue every slave and transport them to our ship. I also want all information from this vessel. After that, blow up this piece of junk with the Silarin in it. Have Hadron send a message to the Silarin home world to inform them if any