Saved by the Alien Crime Boss (Aliens Among Us #4)

Epilogue

EPILOGUE

One Year Later

A gentle breeze flowed over Mina, cooling the skin left bare by her baby blue bikini. She lay atop a blanket with the summer sunshine bathing her in warmth. Grass, flowers, and trees rustled around her, adding to the soothing, natural music created by the lake’s gently lapping waters and the songs of nearby birds.

Tall trees with full, lush leaves surrounded the lakeside meadow, which abounded with colorful wildflowers—pure white daisies, pink musk mallows, and stalks of violet-petaled blue lupin. Smiling, Mina set down her book and ran a finger over the delicate petals of a daisy that stood beside the blanket.

The Catskill mountains were beautiful. Whenever she’d heard about New York in the past, she’d always pictured a massive, congested city with intimidating skyscrapers and indifferent people. But the last year had definitely reshaped her impressions of many places across the country and had put into perspective just how big the US really was.

Sevik and Mina had traveled extensively since leaving Sullford. They’d explored British Columbia, Canada, on their way south, and had followed the Pacific Coast nearly down to Mexico, taking in all the sights along the way. They’d seen the southwestern deserts—Sevik had enjoyed the scenery but hated the heat—and stopped in Arizona to visit Randy and his girlfriend, Katy.

Mina grinned as she recalled when they’d met the older couple at a restaurant for dinner. She’d never seen Randy’s eyes go so wide as they had when she’d introduced Sevik. Throughout the meal, Randy had kept glancing suspiciously between Sevik and Mina, and at the first chance he’d found, he’d pulled her aside and asked if she was okay.

With no need to hide from Brekker, Sevik had altered his shroud. Though he still wore a human face as Viktor Novak, he did so with his white hair and black lyros unhidden.

Despite his politeness toward the older man, Sevik’s appearance had apparently set off alarms for Randy. That grandfatherly concern had come through, and he hadn’t quite believed Mina when she said she was okay until he’d really looked at her.

She remembered how his expression had sobered, and how a slow smile had spread across his face before he’d told her that he had never seen her eyes shine so bright. That he’d never seen her so happy.

And he’d looked happy too. Though he was almost seventy years old, Randy seemed more energetic and youthful than ever, and it was clear where that spark had come from. He and Katy were so sweet together. The woman was kind, warm, and fun-loving. After that first dinner, Mina had felt like she’d known Katy for years.

Mina and Sevik had spent a week in Arizona, seeing Randy every day. The man had really come to life when they went fishing together and Mina still nailed the cast he’d taught her. His excitement had only grown when he learned that Sevik had never fished before.

Nothing seemed to make Randy happier than taking the role of teacher, especially when it came to his two great loves—baking and fishing.

When Mina and Sevik had moved on, they’d done so with the promise that they would visit again soon, and she meant to keep it.

Their course had meandered across multiple states from there, with stops wherever and whenever they’d felt like. They’d visited more silly roadside attractions than she could count, had gazed upon some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country, had met all sorts of people and eaten all sorts of food.

Sevik still preferred meat, but she’d find something sweet that he enjoyed eventually.

Mina loved every moment of it, even when they’d faced the challenges of travel. But her favorite times were still the times like this—when it was just her and Sevik, somewhere secluded. When it was just the two of them.

A splash drew her attention toward the lake, and she propped herself up on her elbows to look. The sight before Mina made her heart flutter and her core clench.

Sevik rose from the lake like a seductive sea god. The water cascading over him caught the golden sunlight and set him aglow. Mina’s eyes followed its course from the tips of his horns, down past his sharp-featured face and broad, powerful shoulders, and over the sculpted muscles of his chest and abdomen. The water line hid his lower half.

Lifting her sunglasses to rest atop her head, she caught her bottom lip between her teeth and watched Sevik walk toward shore. Desire kindled low in her belly, growing hotter with every inch of his body that rose above the water’s surface—the seductive V of his adonis belt, his hips, and finally his slit.

Mine.

This gorgeous male was all hers.

Mina curled her fingers into the blanket as unadulterated lust speared her.

Her gaze trekked over his body, following the rivulets of water streaming down his skin as he approached.

God, she wanted to lick every inch of that delectable skin. Her nipples hardened into achy points, and her pussy clenched with the sudden, visceral need to have him inside her.

As she stared at his slit, it parted, revealing a sliver of the glistening black flesh within.

Only then did she truly register his appearance.

Mina gasped, her wide eyes shooting up to meet his. “Sevik! Your holoshroud!”

He displayed his fangs in a sultry, wicked grin. “We’re in the middle of nowhere, val’syra .”

“But—”

“The birds will keep our secret. And I’ve been watching you, craving you, this whole time. Only fair that I get to see you look at me with the same hunger.”

Sevik settled on the blanket beside Mina. Twisting his fingers in her hair, he tipped her head back. His white eyes were bright against his black sclera, fiery with possessiveness and carnal need. “Hello, my beautiful wife.”

His mouth captured hers in a hard, claiming kiss.

Mina’s lust surged back to the forefront. Bold flicks of his tongue coaxed her mouth open, and he deepened the kiss with a ferocity that she returned in kind. Pleasure spiraled through her, and heat pooled between her thighs.

Her breasts felt heavy and achy, her skin tingled for his touch, and her clit thrummed with need.

“More,” Mina rasped, flattening her palms against his chest. “I need more.”

Sevik chuckled. “As my mate commands.”

He braced his hand on the blanket and moved over her, caging her in with his body. She loved how small he made her feel, how easily he could overpower her, restrain her. Conquer her.

And that was exactly what she wanted him to do right now.

She smoothed her hands up his chest to his shoulders.

Long, sopping wet strands of his hair fell onto her, followed by several drops of cold water.

Mina squealed with laughter as more droplets trickled onto her neck. She pushed against his chest and wriggled beneath him. “You’re getting me all wet!”

He lowered his head, pressed his face to her neck, and inhaled deeply. “Mmm. I know, val’syra . I smell it.” He growled against her throat. The sound reverberated through Mina, making her giggle.

“Sevik!”

He lifted his head with a chuckle. “Should we see just how wet you are for your male?”

His free hand moved to her face, and he trailed the backs of his claws down her cheek, her jaw, and her neck, past her collarbone and between her breasts until he’d reached the string holding the cups of her bikini top together. A delightful shiver coursed over her skin in the wake of his touch. Those white eyes blazed, holding hers captive as he hooked the string with a claw.

A flick of his finger sliced it apart. Mina’s eyes flared. The material fell away, baring her chest to the sun-kissed air.

Sevik cupped one of her breasts. His big, rough palm kneaded her flesh, and she arched her back to press her nipple more firmly against it with a soft moan.

“Ah, my needy wife.” He caught her nipple and pinched, making her gasp and buck her hips. “I fucking love how responsive you are. Love the little sounds you make.”

Keeping his eyes locked with hers, he dropped his head and kissed the hardened peak of her other breast. Just that light touch sent a bolt of pleasure straight to her pulsing clit.

Mina’s breath caught, and her hands flew to his horns, gripping them tight.

His lips and tongue caressed and teased her nipple and the surrounding flesh while his fingers continued pinching, plucking, and twisting the other.

“Sevik,” she breathed. “Please.”

He hummed against her nipple. The vibration made her tremble and squirm. He moved his mouth toward her other breast, placing tender, tormenting kisses along the way, each of them scalding compared to the cold water still trickling off him.

“I could make you come just by toying with these rosy little buds,” Sevik said, his warm breath flowing over her flesh. “Should I try?”

Then he closed his mouth around her nipple and sucked.

Mina cried out, squeezing her eyes shut as pleasure shot through her. And Sevik didn’t relent. The flat of his tongue rubbed her nipple in quick, firm strokes; he might as well have been lashing her clit.

Her thighs trembled as Sevik continued his maddening sucking. Liquid heat flooded her core, soaking her bikini bottoms, and a whimper escaped her throat. Mina held Sevik to her. She was on the verge of coming. She could feel it as that pleasure coiled tight, as tingles spread through her body, and she never wanted him to stop.

Sevik pulled his mouth away. The sensation was both painful and blissful as the air, frigid compared the heat of his mouth, touched her nipple.

Mina tensed and tried to pull his head back down. “No!”

Sevik chuckled, low and dark. “No no, little wife.” He blew upon the throbbing bud. “Not yet. Not until I say.”

“Not fair,” she whispered, glaring at him.

He just smiled and kissed the center of her chest before sliding his body down along hers. His kisses trailed lower, to her belly, which he cradled between his hands.

“One day I will see you round with my child,” he rasped. When he lowered his lips again, their touch was delicate, reverent, and lingering, and a whole new sort of heat ignited within Mina.

She smiled, releasing his horn to caress his damp hair, and let that warmth spread through the entirety of her being. “One day.”

Mina wanted that too. Wanted children, wanted a family with him. She knew Sevik would make a wonderful, protective father.

They weren’t even sure if it was possible. Aliens weren’t supposed to be on Earth at all, so it wasn’t like there were published studies about reproduction between humans and nonhuman species. That didn’t stop them from yearning, from hoping.

But they weren’t ready for that yet. For now, Mina and Sevik simply wanted to enjoy one another, and neither of them were quite willing to share the other. That was why she’d started taking birth control just to be safe.

Sevik kissed her belly again and again, each time more affectionately than the last, but when his eyes rose to meet hers again, they were just as ravenous as before. He stared at her as he slid lower still, until his face was above her pelvis.

With torturous slowness, he undid the knots at her hips that held her bikini bottom together. The tickle of the strings made her skin break out in goosebumps, especially when accompanied by the brush of his fingers.

She ached for him, God did she ache.

He slid a finger under the waistband of her bikini and peeled the fabric away. “Mmm. Just look at how wet you are, val’syra .”

Curling his hands around her inner thighs, he parted them, gaze fixated on her pussy. “Fucking beautiful.”

Sevik dropped a searing kiss right at her center.

“Ah!” Mina cried, threading her fingers into his hair and closing her eyes.

He lapped at Mina from her entrance to her clit, and she moaned his name as pleasure shuddered through her.

“ Ornyr valaas duun , you taste divine.”

His voice rumbled into her, making her hips undulate, and he drove his tongue into her pussy to slide and twist along her inner walls. When it curled, it stroked the sensitive flesh of her G-spot.

“Oh fuck!” she gasped, catching his horns again and bearing down on his tongue to ride it shamelessly.

He stroked that spot repeatedly, greedily, relentlessly.

“Yes! Don’t stop. Oh please, don’t stop!” Mina panted and writhed, her thighs quivering as the sensations within her built. But he didn’t let her escape. He kept her legs pinned and spread wide, his claws pricking her flesh.

Heat curled in her core, stoking the flames of her pleasure higher and higher, threatening to engulf her in a fiery blaze. And she was a willing sacrifice. Let her burn. She’d revel in the inferno.

It was always like this with Sevik. Intense, all-consuming, passionate. His every kiss, his every touch, his every caress made her come alive.

Sevik withdrew his tongue. Before Mina could plead, he latched his lips around her clit and sucked.

Stars burst behind her eyelids, and ecstasy poured into her veins. Mina’s head craned back, her back bowed, and ragged, breathy cries tore from her throat. Her pussy contracted, and a gush of essence flowed from her as her entire body seized.

But Sevik didn’t stop. His tongue lashed her clit, prolonging her pleasure, making her come again and again until she was a trembling mess whispering his name like a benediction.

He released her with a growl and ran the flat of his long tongue over her pussy before placing a soft kiss on her sensitive clit—as he always did after pleasuring her with his mouth. Mina smiled. It was like he thought of her clit as a treasure, a gift, even though it was her that benefitted from his attentions.

Sevik lifted his head, gently pulling his horns out of her lax hold. Panting, she met his gaze. The searing white of his eyes revealed how desperately he wanted her. He crawled up her body, the muscles in his shoulders and arms flexing, his long hair trailing across her heated skin, and when his head dipped, he pressed his mouth to hers.

He kissed her slowly, sensually, tenderly, but no less passionately despite the sweetness. Mina reciprocated, cupping his face between her hands. She tasted herself on his lips as much as she tasted him; the combination was intoxicating.

Sevik broke the kiss and smoothed Mina’s damp curls from her face. “My heart.”

Her eyes stung with the threat of tears as she stared up into his. “And you are mine.” Mina stroked her thumbs along where the black markings on his neck met his jaw. “I need you inside me.”

His pupils expanded into lustful pools of black, and he slipped a hand between their bodies. “And I need to be inside you.”

The head of one of his cocks settled against her rosette, and with a nudge of his hips, the tip of his other cock slipped into her pussy. Mina’s breath hitched, but she forced herself to breathe as he slowly pushed into her. His natural oils eased his entrance, but it didn’t diminish the pressure or the brief flickers of pain as her ass stretched around his girth.

“That’s it, my love,” Sevik crooned as he sank deeper.

Mina held his gaze, keeping her body relaxed and her thighs spread around him. That minor pain quickly gave way to satisfying fullness, to pleasure, and she arched, wanting him only deeper still.

“Sevik,” she whispered, lifting her head and brushing her mouth across his.

He nipped at her lips as he shifted onto his elbows and moved his hands under her head to cradle it. With his body curled over Mina like this, sheltering her, it always made her feel so safe and cherished. It always made her feel like the two of them were the only ones in the whole world.

Sevik pulled back his hips slightly only to thrust deeper, little by little. Mina moaned. She could feel each ridge as they slipped in and out of her, as they grazed her inner walls.

“Fuck, you feel so good,” he groaned. “Just a little more, my wife, my mate. You were made for this. For pleasure. You were made for me .”

With a final thrust, Sevik sank fully inside her, nestling deep. Mina’s head tipped back with a soft gasp, but her eyes did not leave his.

If they could’ve stayed like this forever, Mina would’ve been sorely tempted to do so. She was one with him, intertwined body, heart, and soul; she was enveloped in love, filled with it.

He stroked his thumbs through her hair as he gazed down at her. Despite his dilated pupils having nearly swallowed his irises, there was no darkness in his eyes. The hurt and anger that used to smolder in them was gone. She saw herself reflected in them—and in that reflection, she saw happiness, hope, light, and love. A bottomless well of warm, free-flowing love.

And it was all hers.

She slipped her fingers into his hair. “I love you.”

“My Mina.” Sevik smiled and kissed her forehead. “My love.” His lips grazed her nose. “My val’syra .”

And just before his lips met hers, he whispered, “My home.”