Primal Bond (Warlords of Vasz #4)

20. Chapter 20

Chapter twenty

F inn lay on his borrowed bed, the dim light from the room's control panel casting soft shadows across him. The Ironclad was eerily quiet, the only sound the faint hum of the ship’s systems working in the background.

He stared at the ceiling, feeling the weight of the night pressing down on him. Sleep eluded him, slipping away like sand through his fingers.

He rolled over, frustration boiling beneath the surface. Half of him felt scared, the other half eager. The thought of taking down Rivek consumed him, but so did the fear of failing.

What if he couldn’t find Asher? What if they couldn't take down Rivek? The possibilities twisted in his mind, knotting his stomach.

After making their plans together, Jasper and Kyral had left, going back to their own ship. All of them would reconvene in the morning. But right now, morning seemed so far away.

Finn swung his legs over the edge of the bed, planting his feet on the cold metal floor. The ship felt so empty, and the silence echoed his own restless thoughts. He pushed himself up, heart racing as he made his way to the small mess kitchen…

Which was empty. No Borraq smuggler lord having a secret midnight snack tonight.

Until that moment, Finn hadn't realized how much he'd been hoping for it.

He rummaged through the sparse supplies, hoping for something to quiet the storm inside him. Nothing but ration packs and protein fluids greeted him.

He sighed, irritation bubbling up. He didn’t need food, and he knew it.

He needed something else — someone else.

Taking a deep breath, he made a decision.

When Finn crept to the cockpit, Zanik was reclining in the captain's seat, his tall, muscular frame sprawled across the chair. His eyes were closed, but Finn knew he wasn’t asleep. There was an air of tension that clung to Zanik, something heavy and unshakable. Finn’s curiosity tugged at him, urging him to breach that distance.

He crept into the room, the soft sound of his feet muffled by the ship's low hum...

Just as he inched closer, Zanik’s eyes flicked open, a glimmer of annoyance flashing across his face. “Behave,” Zanik commanded, his voice low and gravelly.

Finn smirked. “You know that’s not happening.”

Without thinking, he lay down on top of Zanik, his smaller frame dwarfed by the Borraq’s powerful build. Zanik’s body radiated heat, filling Finn with a warmth that made his heart race.

But that warmth didn't fill Zanik the same. There was a tension to him that had nothing to do with their mission. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

Finn rolled his eyes, shifting slightly on Zanik’s chest. “Sure, because you look like a happy little sunbeam right now.”

Zanik’s lips twitched. “Maybe I just don’t appreciate being used as a pillow.”

“Too bad,” Finn shot back playfully. "Now, spill. Pillows don't get to hide secrets."

For a moment, Finn thought that Zanik would refuse. But then Zanik’s expression shifted, his brow furrowing. “The clan Kyral mentioned... It was my home clan.”

Finn’s eyes widened. “Your home?!”

“It was. Not anymore.”

“What happened?”

Zanik stared at the ceiling, his jaw tightening as he spoke. “In the war, I watched my best friend die. I couldn’t save him. I saw him take his last breath in his brother’s arms.”

Finn felt a chill creep up his spine. He leaned closer, his heart heavy. “I’m sorry, Zanik.”

“It was chaos. I couldn’t do anything.” Zanik’s voice cracked, raw and unguarded. “Afterward, I couldn’t go back home. I felt like… like a ghost. Like nothing had changed for anyone else. But I had changed. I needed a place to let that dark side out.”

“Smuggling?” Finn asked softly.

Zanik nodded, his eyes still fixed on the ceiling, half-slitted. “It felt easier to lose myself out here in space. No one knows me. There's no roles, no expectations. I can be whoever I want.”

He said the words confidently, but they'd spent too long together for Finn to miss the tension in him. “Kyral seemed nice. The clan must be nice, too. Any place that would harbor a human in the middle of this war can't be that bad. You… could still go home.”

Zanik turned his head, his icy gaze piercing through Finn. “If you could go home right now, would you?”

Finn’s heart sank. He shifted, wrestling with the memories that threatened to drown him. “I… I don’t know. I can’t even picture going back to my old life. It feels like a dream, one that doesn’t belong to me anymore.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was a different person back then,” Finn admitted, his voice trembling. “Before Urlek, before Rivek, I was stupid. I didn’t know anything about life. I thought everything was… easy. Now, I can’t relate to that boy.”

Zanik wrapped his arms around Finn, pulling him close. The warmth of his embrace wrapped around Finn like a protective cocoon. “You’re not that boy anymore. You’re stronger than him. Stronger than you think.”

Finn inhaled Zanik’s scent, a mix of masculine musk and something earthy. “Maybe. But I still don’t know who I am now.”

“You’ll figure it out,” Zanik murmured, his breath warm against Finn’s ear. "I trust you."

Finn’s heart raced at the proximity, the intimacy of the moment. He felt Zanik’s heartbeat, steady and strong, a stark contrast to the chaos swirling in his own chest.

As Finn leaned in closer, Zanik’s breath hitched, a motion that sent shivers down Finn’s spine. Their lips brushed together, tentative at first, a whisper of contact that ignited a fire in Finn’s chest. He pressed forward, deepening the kiss, asking for more — and Zanik responded with a growl, pulling Finn closer.

Finn lost himself in the taste of Zanik, the warmth of his body beneath him. Zanik’s hands found their way to Finn’s waist, firm and possessive, grounding him in the whirlwind of emotions swirling around them. Finn could feel the heat radiating from Zanik’s body, the solid muscles flexing under his touch, and it made his head spin.

Zanik's fingers tangled in Finn's hair, tugging gently as their kisses grew deeper. Zanik’s hands slid up Finn’s sides, sending sparks of pleasure coursing through him. Every caress felt electric, awakening something inside Finn that he thought was long buried.

“Is this what you want?” Zanik murmured, his lips brushing against Finn’s neck, sending goosebumps across his skin.

Finn shivered at the sensation. “More than anything,” he whispered, desire pooling in his belly. “I want you to touch me like I’m not broken.”

Zanik’s gaze locked onto Finn’s, a mix of hunger and concern swirling in his eyes. “You don’t have to—”

Finn cut him off, a fierce determination rising within him. “I want to be treated like I’m not damaged goods. I’m not that stupid boy anymore — and I'm not the sad one you took from Urlek, either.”

With quick movements, eyes on Zanik as if to dare him to stop, Finn pushed himself back and stripped off his clothes, exposing his skin to the cool air of the ship. Zanik watched, his intense gaze drinking in every inch of Finn’s body, and the heat from that gaze made Finn feel alive.

Zanik’s breath caught, and Finn felt powerful, standing bare before him. He wanted to erase the memories of pain, to reclaim himself.

“Then come here,” Zanik commanded, the raw authority in his tone making Finn’s pulse quicken.

Finn’s breath hitched as Zanik’s gaze ignited with a primal heat, raw and undeniable. With a swift motion, Zanik tugged Finn on top of him, their bodies colliding with a satisfying weight. Finn’s skin flushed against Zanik’s, a heat pooling in his belly. The sensation sent shivers down Finn’s spine, awakening every nerve ending that had been dulled for so long.

Finn’s pulse raced, a mix of eagerness and uncertainty flooding through him. He breathed hard, his body responding to Zanik’s touch in ways he hadn’t expected. It felt foreign, exhilarating. The vulnerability washed over him, leaving him exposed yet craving more.

He had spent so long dissociated from his body, trapped in the memories of pain and humiliation. But now, as Zanik’s hands roamed over him, Finn felt something shift. It was a sensation he thought he’d lost — connection, desire, and a hint of freedom.

Finn ground down against Zanik, and felt a rush of power as Zanik groaned, his composure cracking. He leaned in, his breath hot against Zanik's ear. "Come on, big guy. You know you want to. I can feel it." He ground his hips down, feeling Zanik's hardnesses press against him.

Zanik's eyes flashed, a low growl rumbling in his chest. "You're always playing with fire."

Finn smirked, his heart pounding. "Maybe I like the burn."

With a swift movement, Zanik flipped them over, pinning Finn beneath his powerful body. Finn's breath hitched as his back hit the cockpit seat, excitement and fear coursing through him. He could feel Zanik's heartbeat, strong and steady, against his chest, beating hard enough to reach his own.

Zanik's eyes bore into his, intense and hungry. He leaned down, capturing Finn's mouth in a fierce kiss. Finn melted into it, arching up for more, his body responding with a hunger he hadn't felt in a long time.

The contrast was electrifying — Finn’s bare skin pressed against Zanik’s cool, black leather armor. Zanik's gaze darkened, smoldering with intensity as he stared down at Finn. The way his jaw tightened and his breath quickened sent shivers down Finn’s spine. It was as if Zanik were battling something primal inside him, fighting to maintain control even as desire crackled in the air between them.

“Why are you still dressed?” Finn blurted out, a rush of boldness overcoming him. “Take your clothes off.”

Zanik arched an eyebrow, a wry smirk playing at the corners of his lips. “You’re not in charge here.”

“Says you,” Finn teased. "Get moving, boss ."

Narrowing his eyes at Finn, Zanik slowly began to strip off his armor. Finn watched intently, eyes wide with eagerness as each piece fell away to reveal more of Zanik's powerful physique.

As Zanik peeled off his black top, muscles rippled beneath golden skin marred by scars and burns, testaments to a life lived on the edge. Each mark told a story; each line on his body screamed danger and strength.

Finn felt a flutter in his chest at the sight. He glanced down at himself at the scars that mapped out his own battles — the remnants of pain and resilience.

They were a perfect match.

Zanik's hands lowered to his belt, and Finn’s breath hitched as he caught sight of what lay beneath: twin cocks straining against the leather, clearly eager for release.

The fabric fell away, revealing Zanik's powerful thighs, thick with muscle and golden skin that glimmered in the dim light of the cockpit. Every inch of Zanik’s skin seemed to pulse with vitality, the planes and angles drawing Finn's gaze like a moth to flame.

As the cloth slipped down to Zanik's ankles, Finn’s breath hitched again at the sight before him. Two impressive cocks, standing proudly against Zanik’s firm abdomen. They glistened slightly, precome already beading at the tips enticingly.

Finn felt an urgent need clawing at him. He wanted to touch — to explore every hard line of Zanik's body, to feel that power beneath his fingertips. His own skin prickled with longing as he imagined running his hands along Zanik’s strong legs, feeling the heat radiate from his taut muscles.

The overwhelming urge flooded Finn with a mix of excitement and trepidation. How could he want this so badly? He’d spent months locked away from affection, lost in torment and pain, yet here he was, craving something so simple. It wasn’t just about pleasing Zanik; it was about pleasing himself.

Zanik stood there before him, completely bare now, confident in his own skin. Finn swallowed hard, trying to suppress the rush of desire threatening to spill over into something uncontrollable. Every sinewy muscle begged for attention; every scar told a story that made Finn want to trace them with his lips.

Finn groaned as Zanik stepped forward and settled down on top of him, their bodies fitting together perfectly. The weight of the Borraq felt both intimidating and exhilarating, pressing Finn into the cool surface beneath them. He reveled in the warmth radiating from Zanik’s powerful form, their bare skin touching everywhere. He arched up against Zanik’s body, feeling the heat rising between them like an electric charge.

Finn had always hated how much stronger Borraq were. The helplessness had clawed at his insides for so long, a bitter reminder of his vulnerability. But now, with Zanik enveloping him like this, everything felt different. Instead of fear, he embraced the sensation of being held against a powerful body, letting the sensations wash over him in waves of pleasure.

Zanik's twin cocks rubbed against Finn’s stomach as they rocked their hips together, the friction creating a delicious ache that sent ripples of desire coursing through Finn’s veins. Zanik’s slick precome coated his skin, warm and enticing as it smeared across his stomach. That was one thing about Borraq — you never had to guess if they were in the mood.

Finn couldn’t help but groan at the sensation; it was overwhelming yet exhilarating. The way Zanik pressed against him made every nerve in his body sing with longing.

“More,” he gasped, arching up further to seek that sweet friction.

Wrapping his legs around Zanik's hips instinctively drew them closer together. “Please,” he breathed against Zanik's kiss, eyes heavy with desire and need.

"Since you asked nicely…" Zanik growled.

Finn gasped as Zanik's fingers brushed against his entrance, slicked with Zanik's own slick excitement. Finn tensed instinctively, memories of pain and humiliation flooding back. But Zanik's touch was gentle, patient. He circled the sensitive area, coaxing Finn to relax.

Finn took a deep breath, pushing away the dark memories. This was different. This was Zanik, not some cruel owner. He nodded, giving Zanik the go-ahead.

Zanik positioned himself, the tip of one cock pressing against Finn's entrance. Finn tensed again, but Zanik's hand stroked his cheek, grounding him.

Finn inhaled deeply, his body relaxing as Zanik slowly slid one cock into him. There was a moment of discomfort, a stretch that bordered on pain. But Zanik was patient, giving Finn time to adjust.

And then, suddenly, it was just pleasure.

Finn's eyes widened, a gasp escaping his lips. This was nothing like what he'd experienced before. There was no pain, no humiliation. Just a deep, consuming joy that filled every inch of him.

Zanik groaned, his body trembling with restraint. "Finn..."

Finn could only gasp, his voice stolen by the intensity of the sensation. He could feel every inch of Zanik, filling him, completing him.

It was overwhelming. It was perfect.

Zanik began to move, slow and steady, each thrust sending waves of pleasure crashing through Finn. Finn clung to him, his fingers digging into Zanik's muscular shoulders. He could feel the power rippling through Zanik's body, the strength that was now focused solely on him.

Finn's mind raced, a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. He'd spent so long being used, his body a tool for others' pleasure. But this... this was different. This was his choice. This was Zanik, who saw him not as a slave, but as a partner.

A sudden surge of emotion welled up inside him. Tears stung his eyes, but they weren't tears of pain or fear. They were tears of release, of freedom. "Zanik," Finn whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "Don't stop."

Zanik looked down at him, his eyes filled with a mix of desire and tenderness. He captured Finn's mouth in another fierce kiss, sealing their connection, their promise.

When Finn responded eagerly, arching to meet each thrust, Zanik let out a growl. Zanik picked up the pace, his hips moving faster, driving deeper into Finn. Finn could feel Zanik's second cock, hard and hot, rubbing against his own, the friction sending sparks of pleasure jolting through him.

Finn reached down, wrapping his hand around both of their cocks. The sensation was overwhelming, the slick heat of Zanik's cock against his own, the feel of Zanik's powerful body moving above him. He started to stroke them in time with Zanik's thrusts, the dual sensation pushing him closer to the edge.

"Damn, Finn…" Zanik groaned, his voice ragged. "You don't know what you're doing to me."

Finn grinned, breathing hard. He squeezed Zanik's cock, feeling it throb in his hand. "I've got — ah! — some idea—!"

Zanik leaned down, his sharp teeth grazing Finn's throat. The bite was sharp, a jolt of pain that only heightened the pleasure. Finn gasped, his hand moving faster on their cocks, the friction becoming almost unbearable.

"You're perfect," Zanik growled, his voice a low rumble against Finn's skin. "So fucking perfect."

Finn laughed, a breathless sound. "I thought I was too bratty to be perfect."

Zanik's eyes flashed, a mix of desire and amusement. "That's perfect too," he said, his voice rough. He punctuated his words with a sharp slap to Finn's ass, the sting making Finn gasp.

"Oh, fuck ," Finn breathed, his body trembling. From the sting, he knew he was going to be wearing Zanik's handprint on his ass for days—

Finn's orgasm hit him like a wave, crashing over him with an intensity that left him breathless. His cock pulsed in Zanik's hand, hot come splashing over them both.

Zanik didn't slow down. With a primal growl, he buried his face in the crook of Finn's neck, his hot breath sending shivers down Finn's spine. He grabbed Finn's hips, his grip bruising, and buried himself deep inside Finn, pounding into him hard and fast.

The sensation of Zanik's cock filling him, stretching him, was intense. Finn could feel every inch of Zanik, the heat of him, the power behind each thrust. It was raw, primal — and Finn loved every second of it. He clung to Zanik, his fingers digging into the Borraq's muscular back, urging him on.

Zanik's thrusts became erratic, his breath hot and ragged against Finn's neck. With a final, deep thrust, Zanik filled Finn with his come, the heat of it spreading through Finn, marking him, claiming him.

They collapsed together, breathing hard, their bodies sticky and sweaty. Finn's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. He'd been used before, locked away like a dirty secret.

But this... this was different. This was Zanik, holding him close, not pushing him away.

Zanik wrapped an arm around Finn, pulling him close to his chest. Finn could feel Zanik's heartbeat, strong and steady, a comforting rhythm that grounded him. He snuggled closer, a small smile playing on his lips.

"You're a mess," Zanik rumbled, his voice laced with amusement.

Finn laughed, a sound that felt foreign yet right. "Yeah, well, you're not exactly clean yourself, boss."

Zanik chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest and into Finn. "True enough."

Finn's eyes fluttered closed, exhaustion and contentment washing over him. He felt safe, warm — and for the first time in a long time, he felt like himself.