Claus (Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides #7)

Chapter 18

Aubrey peeked in the boys’ bedroom, careful not to make a sound. Her heart constricted to see them sleeping so peacefully. Finn was hugging a new stuffed animal Santa had brought, and Wyatt was clutching a small toy spaceship. A book rested next to Marcus’s head, and she smiled at the sight. The oldest of her nephews frequently fell asleep reading, a habit of which she approved.

She quietly closed the door and tiptoed down the hallway to the stairs, eager to rejoin Claus in the living room. She stopped by the kitchen on the way to retrieve two flutes of champagne.

“Hey, Santa,” she said as joined Claus on the sofa.

As he turned to smile at her, the lights on the Christmas tree reflected in his eyes and gleamed on his dark hair. God, he was handsome. And so terribly sweet.

“Are the boys finally asleep?” He accepted a flute of champagne.

“Yes.” She met his gaze. “We’re alone.” Would he claim her tonight? They didn’t have the mating contract yet, but she didn’t think her libido could wait much longer. Besides, she didn’t think he would renege on the contract.

She trusted him. She wanted him.

Oh, how she craved him with every fiber of her being.

She held up her champagne glass, then clinked it lightly against his. “Cheers.” She savored a long sip.

He gave her a quizzical look but said, “Cheers,” a second later and followed her lead by taking a long sip. He wrapped an arm around her and for several minutes, they enjoyed the quiet festive ambiance that was the night before Christmas. The lights on the tree were beautiful in the darkened living room. The only other light on was a frosted lantern that cast a soft warm glow.

If ever there was a perfect romantic setting, this was it. Aubrey leaned her head against Claus’s shoulder and held out her left hand, admiring her engagement ring. She’d never been a big jewelry person, but she loved the ring. It was a symbol of Claus’s devotion to her.

“Thank you again, Claus. It’s gorgeous. We’re not even mated yet, and I feel like you’re spoiling me.”

“You deserve to be spoiled, sweet human.” He caressed her arm and kissed the top of her head. She melted.

They finished their champagne and set their glasses aside, then turned to face one another. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her insides quivered with fervent longing. As she shifted on the sofa, she became aware of the immense aching in her core, and she suspected she was already drenched. Just thinking about mating with Claus tonight had caused her desires to blaze white-hot.

He set her on his lap and held her close. Beneath her bottom, she felt the hugeness of his big Vaxxlian appendage. Her breaths grew ragged, and she felt feverish with arousal. If he didn’t claim her soon, she feared she might combust. Or start begging for his touch.

He placed his hands on her hips, holding her in place as he gyrated his center upward, grinding his hard manhood against her crotch. Dear lord. She really was about to burn up. She placed her hands on his shoulders, needing something to hold on to as she wiggled her bottom against his raging stiffness.

His nostrils flared and a growl erupted from his throat. “The scent of your growing excitement is making me ravenous, Aubrey.” He placed his lips to her ear. “I can’t wait to feast on your slick pussy. I intend to make you climax again and again before I ram my cock into the sweetness between your thighs.” He slowly trailed his tongue along her earlobe, and when it started to vibrate, she undulated her core overtop the bulge that protruded from his pants.

A delicious shudder coursed through her, and she pulled back slightly to meet his gaze, ready to suggest they move this party upstairs, when an ear-splitting blast suddenly rang out.

Aubrey screamed and found herself being flung to the floor. At first she didn’t understand what was happening, but then she realized Claus was shielding her with his massive body. She tried to peek out at her surroundings, but in the dimness of the living room, she couldn’t see much.

“Fluxx.” Claus jumped up and scooped her into his arms. He peered around the house, studying the walls that were still standing. Nothing appeared amiss. No pictures had been knocked off the walls, and their empty champagne glasses still rested on the coffee table.

“What was that?” she asked in a trembling voice. She glanced toward the stairs as the sound of a child crying reached her. Finn. It sounded like Finn, and she thrashed in Claus’s arms as she tried to get down.

“Easy, sweet human. The shield around the house is still active. Whatever weaponry was used didn’t even touch the walls of the house. It just made a very loud sound.” He set her down, his expression grave as he glanced at his wrist comm. He called out a verbal command in Vaxxlian and the live feeds from her security cameras projected into the air.

As she peered at the live feed that showed a view of her front yard, her stomach plunged to her feet. Two tanks were positioned just beyond the yard, and a male figure holding a megaphone approached from between them. Pete. It was fucking Pete. He held the megaphone to his mouth.

“Consider that a warning shot, Aubrey,” her bastard of an ex said. “The next one will blow your house to smithereens.” He threw his head back with a sinister laugh. “Bet you didn’t know this, but Drexsillans know how to penetrate Vaxxlian shields, and I’ve become quite friendly with the Drexsillans lately. They might’ve even shared some of their technology with me.” Another laugh.

“I should’ve killed that ummptra the first time I caught him bothering you.”

“Is it true?” Aubrey asked Claus. “Can Drexsillan technology get past the shield?”

Claus projected a panel into the air that was covered in flashing technical symbols. A deep frown marred his face. “They are attempting to infect my cruiser with a virus.” His long fingers flew so rapidly over the panel that she couldn’t tell what he was doing. “I am attempting to cause the virus to mutate and send it back to its original source.”

Finn’s cries grew louder, and Aubrey rushed to the stairs. “I must go to the children.” Panic clutched her. How could this be happening? She never expected Pete to show up with tanks and alien technology. She never expected him to threaten her life. Or the lives of her nephews. Was he seriously that butt hurt she didn’t want to be with him? Would he really fire on the house again?

The megaphone screeched, then Pete’s booming voice filled her ears. “Come out, Aubrey, and this ends now. All you have to do is surrender yourself to me. Agree to work for me whenever I need your services and be my wife like you were always meant to be.”

Chills rushed through her, and she felt sick. She aimed a worried look at Claus, but he was still focused on the projection of technical symbols, furiously working to stall the Drexsillan virus.

“Do not worry, my sweet human,” Claus said in a reassuring tone as he continued his work. "I will not allow the vile human male to harm you or the boys. Whatever it takes, I will keep all of you safe. I swear it.”

“You have five minutes to come out!” Pete called. “Starting now!”

Five minutes. She glanced up the stairs, torn between checking on the boys and making sure Claus’s plan would work. If his plan didn’t work, then she would have to go outside and surrender herself to Pete. She couldn’t allow the tanks to fire on the house again. Not with her precious nephews inside, nor with Claus in the line of fire either.

“Get the boys and exit through the back door,” Claus said. “Then board my cruiser. Even if they manage to infect the cruiser’s systems with a virus, my vessel offers better protection than the house. With the hatch locked, it could withstand a nuclear blast.” He regretted that he couldn’t beam Aubrey and the children directly onto his vessel, but he couldn’t divert power from the shields long enough to beam four individuals to the cruiser.

“What about you?” Aubrey called, already halfway up the stairs.

“I will meet you there. I promise. But I must keep the shield from failing before you reach my ship. Now go.”

She bolted up the steps.