Alien Protector’s Mate (Latharian Mate Program #4)

Chapter 21

21

S he was getting married.

Jade bit her lip as she studied her reflection in the full-length mirror. She barely recognized the woman staring back at her. In just thirty whirlwind minutes, the women had transformed her into a radiant bride. The white dress they’d found for her hugged her curves, its delicate lace sleeves brushing her skin like butterfly wings. A crown of emerald flowers sat atop her hair, and a matching bouquet sat on the nearby table, waiting for her.

She still couldn’t believe this was happening, her fingers trembling as she smoothed the fabric of the gown over her hips. The enormity of the moment threatened to overwhelm her. After years of feeling unworthy and unwanted, she was about to be married… bonded to S’aad, her handsome alien mate who had seen her for who she was and cherished her for it.

Margaret stepped up beside her and squeezed her shoulders gently. “You look absolutely beautiful, my dear. S’aad won’t know what hit him when you walk down that aisle.”

She met the older woman’s gaze in the mirror, forced to blink away tears. “Thank you. All of you. I never imagined I’d have anything like this.”

Elena fussed with the flowers in Jade’s hair and chuckled softly. “Well, get used to it, honey. This is just the beginning of your fairytale. When these Lathar men fall, they fall hard. Prepare to be pampered for the rest of your life.”

A knock at the door startled them all. Z’yan’s deep voice carried through the barrier. “It’s time, ladies. The honor guard is ready to escort the bride to her bonding ceremony.”

Her breath caught in her throat. This was it. In just a few moments, she would walk down the aisle to become S’aad’s mate… his wife. She smoothed her hand over her midsection as the butterflies in her stomach performed a wild dance.

The door slid open as they reached it, and she gasped. The corridor was lined with a group of Latharian warriors in gleaming leathers and embellished and adorned sashes, each holding a polished blade to form an arch overhead.

She blinked, looking sideways at Naomi, standing next to Z’yan. “What’s going on?” she whispered, her hand tight around her bouquet as she eyed them nervously. Were they here to stop her marrying S’aad?

Naomi grinned, happiness dancing in her eyes. In a gown fit for a princess, with jewels in her hair, she looked stunning. Then Jade remembered Naomi was mated to Rohn, who was a prince, so she literally was a princess.

“It’s your honor guard,” she said, linking arms with Jade and leading her under the arched blades. “They’re here to protect you on your way to your bonding ceremony.”

She blinked, eyeing the door at the end of the corridor, which led to the main hall of the mate offices. It was all of thirty meters or so.

“Seriously, for this little distance?” she whispered back. “They shouldn’t have bothered.”

“Oh, don’t let them hear you say that,” Naomi murmured, although it was obvious the alien men could hear them. As the two women walked under the arched blades, the warriors holding them moved into position behind Z’yan, marching behind them. “It’s a real big thing for them to be chosen for an honor guard. Some of them would have fought to be here.”

Jade’s eyes widened, and she shot a look at the warriors. Sure enough, several of them were sporting black eyes or bruises on their faces.

“Well, thank you,” she said to them, making sure to raise her voice so that they could all hear her. “Thank you all for doing this for me and S’aad.”

“You are most welcome, my lady,” the nearest one murmured, looking at her directly. “What M’lak did was wrong. We just want you to know that we would never have allowed it to happen. If Healer V’Renn had fallen, we would have kept challenging M’lak until one of us put him down for good.”

“Thank you… you don’t know how much that means to me.” Tears filled her eyes, emotion welling up to choke her, but she managed to get the words out.

The walk down the corridor, with Z’yan moving ahead of them to lead the little procession, was short and sweet. As they reached the door, Z’yan stopped and turned to face her. His expression was solemn and serious as he bowed and then straightened to ask her, “Lady Jade, before we enter, I am bound by honor and duty to ask whether you are certain you wish to proceed with this bonding?”

Naomi leaned in to murmur. “If you don’t want to go ahead with the bonding, these warriors are here to get you away safely. It’s to stop women being forced into bonding against their will.”

Jade met his gaze steadily, her voice firm. “Yes, I’m certain. I’m absolutely certain.”

A small smile tugged at the corners of the big Lathar’s lips as he inclined his head respectfully. “Then we should not keep your mate waiting any longer.”

The doors slid open, and she gasped at the crowds within, parting as they walked in to form an aisle. It seemed like everyone on the station had crammed in here, and they were all looking at her. Gripping the handle of her bouquet tightly, she straightened her spine and smiled back.

But then she looked up, and the crowds parted to reveal S’aad at the far end of the aisle. Everything else melted away. All she could see was him. He’d switched out his normal leathers for a more formal pair with a heavily embroidered teal sash across his chest. His hair was pulled back from his face, which made him all the more handsome in her opinion, but the look of pure adoration on his face took her breath away.

She began her walk toward him, drawn to him like a compass needle to true north. He was her true north. Her heart, her soul, her home… everything.

He extended his hand as she reached him, and she placed her fingers in his, marveling at how small and delicate they felt against his larger palm. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver of anticipation through her entire body.

Prince Rohn stepped forward, his regal bearing softened by the genuine smile he offered them. “Welcome, friends and honored guests,” he began, his voice carrying easily through the chamber. “We are gathered here today to witness the bonding of two souls… S’aad V’Renn and Jade Ashton.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowds packed into the room before looking at them again.

“Love,” he continued, “is a force that transcends the boundaries of worlds and species. It is a bridge between cultures, a light in the darkness of space. Today, we celebrate not only the union of two individuals but the promise of a future where Latharian and humans can come together in harmony and mutual respect.”

Tears prickled at the backs of her eyes, moved by the prince’s words and the weight of the moment. S’aad squeezed her hand gently, sliding a sideways glance and a reassuring smile down at her.

Prince Rohn turned to face them directly. “S’aad V’Renn and Jade Ashton, please join hands and face each other.”

They did as instructed, and her heart leaped as she looked up into S’aad’s green eyes. They were so different to her own, but she saw the love she had for him reflected back at her.

“Blood calls to blood and soul to soul,” the prince said, his deep voice measured and resonant. “Soul calls to skin, woman to man, binding the halves of a whole together for all eternity.”

He turned to her first. “Lady Jade, do you take this warrior who bears your marks on his skin to bond-mate? To support and honor him for the rest of his life?”

Her voice was soft but steady. “I do.”

Prince Rohn nodded and then turned to S’aad. “Warrior and Healer S’aad, do you take this woman who has called marks in your skin to bond-mate? To protect her and honor her for the rest of your life?”

“I do,” S’aad answered without hesitation, his deep voice filled with emotion.

Prince Rohn held out a sapphire sash, carefully wrapping it around their joined hands.

“Then, as Prince of the Lathar Empire, I bless your bonding,” Rohn declared. “May it bring much solace and be fruitful. You may now kiss your mate.”

S’aad didn’t hesitate. He pulled her close, one hand cupping her face tenderly. When their lips met, it was as if the entire universe had condensed to this single point of contact. She melted into the kiss, pouring all of her love and devotion into it.

The chamber erupted in cheers and applause, and she jumped, startled back to awareness of their surroundings. She blushed, realizing how caught up in the moment she had become. How hot their kiss had been.

S’aad didn’t seem to care, though. Without warning, he scooped her up into his arms. She squeaked in surprise, wrapping her arms around his neck as he cradled her against his broad chest and walked directly toward the door.

“S’aad!” she hissed. “What are you doing? We can’t just leave. We need to thank everyone for coming or something… Don’t we?”

His deep chuckle rumbled against her side where he held her against him, just as much felt as heard. The heat in his eyes made her breath catch and desire simmer through her veins. “That might be the way humans do things, kelarris, but I’m Lathar. We’re a little more… direct about things.”

She frowned. “But what about the reception? The celebration?”

“We can have a grand party in a few days if that’s what you want,” he said, his pace not slowing once as he carried her through the corridors. “But right now, there’s only one thing I want to do.”

The dark heat in his gaze sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine.

“And what’s that?” she whispered.

His lips curved into a predatory smile. “Why, to get my new wife back to our quarters so I can properly claim her, of course.”

Jade bit her lip, her stomach filled with butterflies as he carried her through the door of their quarters, his strong arms cradling her against his chest gently. The leather of his uniform brushed against her skin, the heat of his body and the beat of his heart a reassuring tattoo against her side.

The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of the wall panels casting long shadows in the room, but she barely saw it, her gaze locked on to his as he carried her right through into the bedroom. He stopped by the bed, and the intensity of his stare made her feel like she was the only thing that existed for him in the universe, the only thing that mattered. The green of his eyes was swallowed up by a dark hunger that made her catch her breath… a raw, primal desire that sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine.

“You are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he murmured, his voice low and rough.

Warmth spread out through her chest and then through her entire body, which had nothing to do with the temperature of the room and everything to do with the man holding her. She had never felt so seen, so desired, so cherished. It was exhilarating and wonderful, a heady mix of emotions that made her feel dizzy and lightheaded.

She reached up to trace the line of his jaw, the rough stubble there prickling her fingertips. His jaw clenched under her touch, the pulse at the base of his throat a steady throb that matched her own racing heartbeat. His lips parted slightly, the tiny sound of need that escaped him sending a shiver of anticipation coursing through her.

“S’aad,” she whispered.

“Say it again,” he demanded in a rough growl, leaning in to brush his lips against hers. Not kissing her, not quite, just little brushes that teased her… made her follow his lips with her own. “I like the sound of my name on your lips.”

“I love you, S’aad,” she whispered, watching his eyes flare with heat, his expression tightening possessively.

“Kelarris,” he murmured, bending his head to claim her lips in a hard kiss that told her everything she needed to know about how he felt.

She gasped as his teeth grazed her lower lip, a sharp, sudden sensation that was both pain and pleasure rolled into one. His tongue swept into her mouth, claiming her, possessing her, and she could feel the edge of dominance in his kiss, the unspoken demand for her surrender.

She whimpered in response, surrendering to him immediately. Her hands slid through the silken strands of her hair as he plundered her mouth. The raw urgency and desperation in his touch sparked the same in her. His lips moved against hers with an almost feral hunger, a raw, primal need that sent a wave of heat coursing through her body.

She met his demand with her own, their kiss making her breathless and aching for more as he let her go, sliding her down his body until her feet just touched the floor… but not quite. He held her against him, stretched out so there was no gap between them. She felt every carved plane of muscle, and the thick, hard bar of his cock trapped between them sent a throb of need pulsing through her core.

Memories of the night before rolled through her mind, and she challenged him gently for dominance of the kiss. He growled a warning low in the back of his throat, walking her backward to the bed.

“Dangerous games, little mouse,” he warned in a voice that made her shiver. “Are you sure you want to play them with me?”

She nodded, her eyes wide as she looked up at him, her arms still around his neck.

With a groan that sounded like it was torn from the depths of his being, he bent his head and kissed her again.

“Gods, I have to have you,” he growled. “I swore to myself I would take this slowly. You’re still new at this, but… I can’t wait. I have to have you.”

“Yes… please,” she begged, his words sending a jolt of heat that arrowed through her body straight to her core. Her clit ached, and she pressed her thighs together. His nostrils flared as he registered her movement, pressing a big hand against the back of her hips to hold her in place.

“Is my mate in need?” he asked against her lips, and she nodded, biting back the small moan as he teased her with his lips again but didn’t kiss her.

Without a word, he bent down, holding her gaze as he reached for the hem of her dress. She caught her breath, hardly daring to breathe as he lifted it up and over her head, leaving her clad in just her tiny panties. Pausing for a moment, he swept a heated gaze over her, his jaw clenching as he took in her nearly naked form.

He dropped the dress behind him and surged forward, sliding a hard arm around her waist to haul her against him. She shivered at the feel of the leather against her bare skin and then nearly yelped as he slid his hand between her legs, cupping her boldly.

“You’re mine, kelarris.” His voice was as hard, possessive… and the most erotic thing she’d ever heard. “And this is mine. No other male will ever touch you, will ever know you.”

She smoothed her hands over his broad shoulders. “And I don’t want them to… I’m yours, S’aad. I always will be,”

A triumphant growl rumbled in his chest, and he captured her mouth in another searing kiss. This time, there was no gentleness, no tentative exploration. It was a kiss of pure, unadulterated desire, a claim that left no doubt about what he was going to do to her next. His fingertips found the edge of her panties and slid beneath. She gasped into his mouth as he parted her pussy lips and found her clit, stroking it with clever fingers.

He pulled back, his expression hard and voracious. He watched her face as he touched her, and she saw the raw hunger in his gaze.

“Give me your pleasure,” he demanded as he stroked her. “I want to see it, hear it, as you come all over my fingers.”

She bit her lip, an ache setting up between her thighs that she knew only he could ease. He was going to be the death of her. Heat built on her cheeks as he teased the entrance to her body with his fingertip and then eased inside.

“Oh god,” she whimpered, her hands clutching at his shoulders as he slid one finger deep, followed by a second. Turning his hand, he rubbed her clit with his thumb as he lazily pumped his fingers in her slick channel. “That… it fe…”

She couldn’t finish the sentence, couldn’t even frame a thought as he set about driving her out of her mind. The sounds of his fingers sliding in and out of her filled the room in an erotic symphony punctuated by her soft gasps and moans.

“No,” he told her in a firm voice when she let her head drop forward to rest against his broad shoulder, sliding his hand into her hair and pulling her head back. “I want to see you. I want to watch you.”

Held in place, she was forced to meet his darkened eyes. She couldn’t look away. The pleasure built until her breathing came in short, needy pants and her hands mangled his jacket.

“Oh god, S’aad!” she cried out as the tight knot deep inside shattered. She sagged against him, cradled in his strong arms as pleasure washed over her, her hips snapping against his hand as he continued to stroke her. Stretching out her release until she was limp and pliant in his hold.

“That was beautiful,” he rumbled, kissing her forehead as he gently laid her on the bed. “ You are beautiful.”

She just blinked up at him as he stepped back. With practiced movements, he stripped off his clothing, revealing the hard, chiseled lines of his body. The sight of him, powerful and naked, took her breath away.

He reached for her again as he joined her on the bed, big hands tracing her curves as he pulled her up against him. The roughness of his fingers against her skin made her shiver, her skin on fire and every nerve ending alight with his touch. His mouth found hers again, his kiss fierce and possessive, claiming her with an intensity that left her aching with need.

His hands roamed over her body, exploring every inch of her body as if it were sacred ground. She arched against him, her body aching for more, desperate for the release that she knew only he could provide. He traced a fingertip over the line of her collarbone and then dipped lower, cupping her breast. A moan escaped her as his thumb brushed against her nipple.

Then his mouth replaced his hand, his lips closing around her nipple before he suckled with a voracious hunger. She arched into him, offering more of herself as her fingers tangled in his hair. She held him close as he feasted on her breasts—first one and then the other. The sensation of his mouth on her, the heat of his tongue, and the gentle scrape of his teeth all conspired to drive her out of her mind with need.

His hands roamed lower, tracing the curve of her waist, her hips, her thighs. The heat built inside her again, tension tight in her core. His fingers stroked between her legs again, and she flinched away, the flesh there too sensitive. But he stroked again and she moaned. It felt good, so good.

The pad of his thumb circled her clit, a maddeningly light touch that had her hips bucking against his hand. He chuckled against her breast, the sound muffled and vibrated, relentlessly continuing his sensual torment of her.

“S’aad,” she gasped, as each touch, each caress added to her need. “Please…”

“Your wish is my command, my lady,” he murmured as he moved over her, his body covering hers completely.

She murmured in the back of her throat at the weight of him over her, the solid strength in his frame as he bracketed her with his arms. She’d never felt so protected, or possessed. He leaned down and claimed her lips again, his kiss deep and demanding. Nudging at the entrance to her pussy with the thick, broad head of his cock, he swallowed her moans with his kiss.

With a single, powerful thrust, he plunged into her. She broke from the kiss, crying out as he buried himself to the hilt. It was overwhelming. He stretched her, filled her… claimed her. He was so big and hard. The feel of him inside her was almost too much to bear.

He kissed her temple, murmuring soft words against her skin, and her body relaxed. It wasn’t overwhelming. It felt good. He felt good. She rocked her hips as he gasped, the tiny catch of breath in the back of his throat making her feminine pride flare in triumph.

“Gods, I can’t get enough of you,” he rasped, beginning to move.

His thrusts were deep and sure as he drove into her again and again, slow at first but then faster and faster until the bedframe beneath them creaked softly, adding its voice to the symphony of sex in the room. She clung to him, her nails raking down his back as he moved within her, each powerful thrust filling her completely.

She felt every inch of his thick, hard length. Felt the power in his hips as he drove into her and the tension in his arms as he held himself above her. His skin was slick with sweat, the scent of him enveloping her, a heady mixture of musk and exotic spice uniquely his.

Every thrust sent waves of pleasure coursing through her, the friction as he took her, claimed her, adding to the tension deep within her core. She clenched around him, her strong inner muscles clamping down. He groaned, the sound dragged from deep within his chest.

“Jade,” he growled, his voice a low rumble against her ear. “You feel so good. So draanthing good.”

A shiver of pleasure rolled down her spine, and the knowledge that she was doing this to him…that she was driving him almost to the point of losing control fueled her own arousal. Arching her back, she met him thrust for thrust, their bodies moving in perfect sync.

Heat built between them to an inferno, the tension coiling tighter and tighter with each thrust. Her breath came in short, ragged gasps as he sped up, slamming into her harder and faster. His control slipped, his movements becoming more urgent, more frenzied.

“S’aad,” she gasped, her voice a broken plea. “I’m so close. Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.”

He growled low in his throat, a dangerous, primal sound that caused a fresh wave of liquid heat to bathe his cock, easing his possession of her.

“Yes,” she hissed, digging her nails into his shoulders. “More. Harder .”

He heard her, driving into her with a need and passion that left her breathless, pushing her closer and closer to the brink. Then the pressure crested like a tidal wave. Her muscles clenched, her body straining toward the release she needed. The release just out of reach… over the edge.

She just needed to reach the edge.

“Yes,” he snarled, his voice a low, guttural growl. “Come for me. Come around my cock.”

The dirty command did it for her. With a cry she shattered and tumbled over the edge, her release crashing over her in a tsunami of sensation.

Her back arched, her body shuddering as wave after wave of ecstasy washed through her. S’aad dropped his head to her shoulder, his roar of release drowning out her soft gasps. He pulsed within her, his cock throbbing as he came inside her, bathing her inner walls in rope after rope of his thick, hot seed.

They clung to each other as they rode out the aftershocks, trembling as their hearts pounded. Slowly, gently, S’aad lifted off her and lowered himself beside her, his arms still wrapped around her, holding her close. They lay tangled in each other’s arms for long moments, getting their breath back.

“That was…” she murmured, her voice thick with emotion as she moved to look up at him. “That was amazing.”

He stroked her hair, his fingers gently untangling the strands as he gazed down at her, his eyes soft and tender. “ You are amazing, Jade,” he replied, his voice a low, rumbling purr. “I’ve never felt anything like that before. The way you make me feel…”

He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, to the tip of her nose, and finally to her lips. The kiss was slow and tender, a promise of more to come. She melted into it, savoring the feel of his lips against hers.

“You’re mine now,” he whispered as he broke the kiss. “Forever.”

She smiled, happiness filling her. “Yes, forever.”