Khann: Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides #5 (Intergalactic Dating Agency) Read online

  “I signed up for the mail order bride service after a doctor told me he’d heard a rumor that Vaxxlian males always injected their mates with healing nanobots. The doctor said it was my only hope at survival. I was desperate for a cure and I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving Amie all alone. I know this might look bad and seem like I’m only using you, but she’s so young and she needs me. I’ll do anything to protect her, including sign up to marry a complete stranger. Please understand.”

  “I am sorry that you were sick, little human, and I hope you are feeling better now.”

  “I haven’t felt this good in months,” she said. “Thank you, Khann. Truly.” Tears burned in her eyes and she blinked them back, not wanting to cry in front of this male she barely knew.

  Healed. She was healed. She could scarcely believe her good fortune. Now Amie wouldn’t lose a mother. Belle’s plan had worked.

  An alarm rang out and it took her a moment to realize it was her phone. Time to take her pills. Except it wasn’t. Not anymore. A sense of relief mingled with disbelief washed through her. She would no longer have to take the pills, ensure she got at least two naps a day, or worry that she simply wouldn’t wake up one morning. She withdrew the phone from her pocket and turned the recurring alarm off while Khann watched.

  “My timer,” she explained. “A reminder that I’m supposed to take my medicine, though I suppose now I can turn it off for good. Thanks to you.”

  He studied her, an anxious expression making the slight lines around his eyes and lips more noticeable. “Do you still intend to honor our mating contract?” he asked. The longing in his eyes startled her, and she had the oddest urge to comfort him, to reassure him that yes, she still planned to honor their mating contract.

  “Of course I do,” she found herself saying. “I would still like Amie to have a father and it’s not safe for us on Earth.” She sighed and smacked her forehead. “Well that’s not any better. It still sounds like I’m using you. I’m sorry.”

  “You need not apologize, my little human,” Khann said in a warm voice. “Most of the human females who sign up for the mail order bride service do so because they seek safety. We are happy to provide a safe place for our females to live. It’s a fair exchange for us, for we finally have mates to call our own, females to bear our children.” He placed a hand upon her stomach. “I have no doubt we will have many children together. Do you think Amie will like being a big sister?”

  She didn’t deserve his kindness. In fact, she didn’t want it at all. She wanted him to be cruel so she would have more reason to hate him. But maybe that was a stupid thought because if he was cruel to her, he might not treat Amie very well either. She still couldn’t get the image of Amie hugging him and calling him Daddy Khann out of her mind. Despite her misgivings about mating with a Vaxxlian, it had been a beautiful sight, especially when Khann had hugged her back.

  “Amie has always wanted to have a sibling,” Belle replied.

  “Good.” Khann cupped her face. “Because I have a feeling our family will soon grow. I intend to mate with you over and over, until I get you with child.”

  Before Belle could respond, he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.

  Chapter 8

  The whole world faded away as Khann moved his lips gently against Belle’s, until he probed her with his tongue and she found herself parting her lips and giving herself over to the tingling warmth that suddenly flowed through her.

  When she had imagined the first time her Vaxxlian mate kissed her, Belle had worried she might freeze up or perhaps even push the male away. How could she allow herself to experience any intimacy with the enemy? And so she’d told herself she needed to do a good job of pretending, otherwise the Vaxxlian might think something was wrong and question her reasons for signing up for the mail order bride service.

  But Khann had already learned her reasons for signing up for Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides. He also didn’t seem to care that she’d done so out of the complete desperation to stay alive long enough to raise her daughter, that she’d signed up because she’d heard about the nanobots. He only cared that she was willing to become his bride, return to his planet at his side, and bear his children.

  A low growl escaped his throat as he clutched her face and deepened the kiss. She mused that it didn’t feel like she was kissing the enemy at this moment. Nor did it feel as though she were pretending. Kissing Khann was deliciously wonderful. It made her head spin and caused pulses to flare between her thighs. She was trembling all over again, not from nervousness this time, but from burgeoning desire.

  Not breaking the kiss, he lifted her up and settled her upon his lap. The hardness of his erect manhood pressed against her bottom. Unable to help herself, she squirmed around and was rewarded with another one of Khann’s sexy growls. When his tongue started vibrating in her mouth, she nearly squealed in surprise, but she somehow managed to keep her calm.

  Oh my. A vibrating tongue. Her mind went wild with the possibilities.

  A soft moan left her throat as his tongue danced along hers. He tasted like a pleasant combination of peppermint, uguliaran honey, and something much sweeter that she couldn’t put her finger on. God, she couldn’t get enough of him, and even though her chest was starting to ache from lack of air, she couldn’t bring herself to push away and break the kiss.

  The longer she kissed him, the easier it was to forget about why she considered him the enemy. The easier it was to make excuses for him. Maybe he wasn’t like other Vaxxlians. Maybe he was nicer and more honorable.

  He saved your life.

  She would never forget that he’d injected her with the nanobots while she was passed out, when he hadn’t even officially mated with her yet, nor would she forget how Amie had looked at him with stars in her eyes before hugging him and thanking him for saving her mother. Daddy Khann. Would Amie keep calling him that? Did the child truly already view Khann as a father figure?

  A whimper of protest escaped Belle when Khann pulled away, and her face flamed with embarrassment in the aftermath of that needy noise she hadn’t intended to make. As she stared into his glowing green eyes, she felt torn.

  Torn between her loyalty to the Irrcons who’d treated her with kindness, particularly Mikkal, and the strange sense of safety she experienced in Khann’s arms and her desire to mate with him.

  She should be terrified of Khann. She should push him away, stand up, and announce she was breaking their mating contract. She should be able to send him away without a shred of guilt, even if he had given her a dose of precious, lifesaving nanobots.

  Why was she unable to reject him?

  Her heart skipped a beat as he ran his thumbs over her jawline and then tangled his hand in her hair, combing his fingers through her long curly locks but somehow not hurting her. A rush of endorphins seized her, making her head prickle with awareness and tingles rush through her still-trembling body.

  “I like kissing you, little human,” he said, his voice a deep murmur at her ear. His lips played along her earlobe and he worked his way down her neck, branding her with soft kisses and the occasional swipe of his vibrating tongue. “And I am eager to mate with you and make you mine. I have a feeling I could pump you full of my seed a hundred times a day and never tire of claiming you.”

  As if to prove his point, his cock swelled larger beneath her bottom, pulsing hot against her even through the layers of their clothing. Still staring into her eyes, he growled, this time louder than before. He moved in to kiss her again. She closed her eyes and lifted her face, eager for more, only for Amie’s voice to break the spell.

  “Momma, I’m hungry and I tried to order room service but the lady on the video comm said I had to get my mommy to do it so even though I know you want to talk with Daddy Khann I have to bother you and it’s not my fault it’s the lady on the video comm’s fault,” Amie said in a breathless rush.

  Khann straightened and looked down at Belle. “My Vaxxlian cruiser is parked on the roof
. It’s equipped with a food replicator. If you and Amie have your belongings packed, we can relocate to my ship and I’ll be happy to prepare a meal for all of us there. We can also depart Earth. If travel conditions are optimal, we will arrive on New Vaxx in less than a day.”

  Belle’s heart thundered in her ears. “Leave Earth?”

  He gave her a confused look. “Of course. Why would we linger on this planet?”

  “Because we don’t know one another well yet!” she burst out. “I-I think we should get to know one another a bit better before we consummate our mating union.” She uttered this last bit in a hushed whisper, not wanting Amie to hear.

  “You’ve already promised to honor our mating union, little human.” He tensed and grasped her upper arms, though his touch remained gentle as ever. “I do not understand why you would wish to postpone leaving Earth. I intend to mate with you soon. Tonight.”

  Thank goodness Amie was standing in the doorway singing to herself. Belle didn’t want to have to explain mating unions to a five-year-old. Although she supposed if the child asked, she could simply say ‘mating union’ was another word for marriage, despite how primitive the term sounded.

  “Khann, I’m nervous about mating with you right away. Please understand. Please give me some time to become better acquainted with you. I mean it when I say I will honor our mating contract, but I won’t feel comfortable mating with you or leaving Earth until we know one another better. I know the city isn’t exactly safe right now, but we won’t have to leave the hotel for any reason. Please give me some time.”

  Chapter 9

  Khann did not understand Belle’s hesitation. He had assumed they would mate this evening. Learning of her wishes to postpone their mating, as well as their departure from Earth, left him reeling.

  Impatience surged through him.

  He didn’t want to wait. He wanted to keep kissing this human, bring her to his ship, and consummate their mating union while the ship carried them through the Eshunna Passage toward home. New Vaxx. He wanted to bring Belle and Amie to the safety of New Vaxx immediately.

  Fluxx. He allowed Belle to stand up and he rose to his feet a moment later, trying not to scowl. He didn’t want Amie to see him looking angry, though in truth he wasn’t very mad, mostly disappointed and confused.

  “I do not wish to linger on this planet,” he said in a solemn tone. “I also do not like uncertainty.”

  Belle’s head shot up and she glared at him. “I said I would honor our mating union and I meant it. I don’t break promises.” Her expression abruptly softened. “You saved me, Khann, and I will never forget that. I will mate with you and agree to leave Earth, but please give me more time.”

  He moved closer to Belle and took her hands in his. Behind him, he could hear Amie singing a repetitive song that she had apparently made up on the spot.

  “Amie is hungry. Amie is hungry. Why won’t they feed me? Why won’t they feed me? Amy is so very hungry…”

  He exchanged a smile with Belle as the little girl’s antics served to break the tension between them. He squeezed her hands and breathed in her floral scent, reminding himself that she had in fact agreed to become his mate. In the long term, would a few days truly make that much of a difference?

  Perhaps it wouldn’t take more than a day or two to convince her. He could romance her and keep kissing her and entice her to join him in bed. He had scented her arousal in the air when she’d squirmed on his lap. She desired him physically at least, and this brought him hope.

  “Very well, little human, I will give you time.” He paused, carefully considering his next words. “However, I do not wish to spend more than ten days on this planet. I must return to my people soon. If you don’t feel comfortable mating with me in ten days, I still wish to depart for New Vaxx. In such a case, we can eventually consummate our mating union on my planet. Do you find these terms acceptable?”

  She drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out. “Um, I think this sounds acceptable. Do you have a job you need to return to? On New Vaxx, that is?”

  He nodded. “I am involved in several building projects, including the construction of a new school, and I know my fellow warriors are hoping I return soon. I do not wish to delay the construction of the school, and I also do not wish to prolong our stay on Earth for the simple reason that this planet is failing. It is my sacred duty to keep you and Amie safe and I intend to do so, even if we haven’t mated yet.”

  “Ten days,” she said. “I can work with that.”

  “Of course, I hope we leave sooner than that.” He stepped closer, still holding her hands. He trailed his thumbs over the soft undersides of her wrists, ever so lightly, causing her to shiver. “And I intend to do everything in my power to entice you into mating with me. I ache for you, little human. I long to kiss and lick you all over, especially between your thighs, and drive my cock into you and claim you as mine for all time.”

  Well now. If Khann kept up the dirty talk, Belle just might lose her resolve to postpone their mating. The room felt hotter and all she could think about was him doing as he’d promised and kissing—and licking!—her all over.

  Especially between her thighs.

  Waves of heat flowed through her and she found herself staring at his lips, hoping he might kiss her again. But Amie’s singing soon became louder and Belle couldn’t just stand here and make out with Khann while her daughter was in the room. Parenting books probably frowned upon that sort of thing.

  “Amie is so very very very hungry. Amie is hungry. Why won’t they feed me? Why oh why I wonder why…”

  “Amie, darling, there are some leftover cookies in the kitchen. Go grab yourself one just to tide you over and I’ll call down for room service in a moment. I suppose it is after lunchtime already.”

  “Okay, Momma!” Amie rushed from the room.

  “Thank you for giving me time, Khann.” Her heart contracted with warmth when he smiled down at her and squeezed her hands. He was so much larger than her, he could’ve easily forced her and Amie onto his ship and taken them away from Earth. He could also force Belle to mate with him today, but he had promised to allow her time to get to know him better first. Maybe he wasn’t the brute she had imagined her Vaxxlian mate might be.

  “Of course, my sweet Belle,” he said.

  “Well, I suppose I’d better call down for room service. Some of the rooms in this hotel have food replicators, but we weren’t able to get one. But I promise the food here is excellent. We haven’t had a bad meal yet. Tell me, what are your favorite foods? I’d like to try to order something you enjoy.” She spoke quickly, eager to change the topic from mating and leaving Earth to something more mundane. Like ordering lunch.

  “I enjoy pizza,” he said, surprising her.

  “You’ve had pizza before?”

  “Yes, and macaroni and cheese, as well as spaghetti and meatballs and cheeseburgers with french fries. I visited an outpost once that contained a restaurant run by a human. My brothers and I ordered one of everything and liked most of what we tried.”

  “What outpost was that?” she asked, trying to keep her tone casual. She knew of several outposts near the Dreusha Outpost that contained small restaurants run by humans.

  “The Garrissixan Outpost,” he said, naming an outpost she’d never heard of before. His eyes clouded with grief. “It was before the war. I remember returning to Vaxxlia after our trip and describing all we saw to my parents.”

  Relief flowed through her and she nodded. “I-I was just curious.” She forced a smile. “I’ll go order lunch now.”

  Just as she moved to step away, he pulled her closer and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Then he released his hold on her and backed away, his green eyes glowing with an intensity that stole her breath.

  “Even though I am anxious to mate with you and leave Earth, little human, I find I am looking forward to getting to know you better. We will spend many enjoyable days together in this hotel room.” His gaze darkened wit
h unmistakable lust.

  She hurried off to order room service, her heart thundering in her ears. It shouldn’t be so difficult to resist Khann, but she had a feeling keeping her distance from him wouldn’t be easy.

  What the hell had she gotten herself into?

  Chapter 10

  The midday meal was an enjoyable affair. Khann normally rushed his meals, often eating quickly and all by himself, consuming only enough nutrient rich food to keep him going so he might have enough energy to continue working.

  When was the last time he’d sat down with his brothers or friends for a leisurely meal with pleasant conversation? He couldn’t remember. But it must have been before the war. Before the Irrcon attack on Vaxxlia, which had claimed his parents’ lives and so many others.

  The simple joy of sitting with Belle and Amie while they shared a meal brought him a peace he hadn’t experienced in ages. Belle had ordered two large pizzas, covered with an array of delicious toppings, as well as a platter of cheeseburgers and french fries. He noticed she and Amie didn’t eat very much compared to him, but then he remembered that Vaxxlians had a much larger appetite than humans.

  He watched Belle as she nibbled on her pizza. She was no longer as pale as she’d been when he first arrived at the hotel room. In fact, her cheeks were now rosy, and her skin seemed to glow. This told him she must have been very sick and toward the end of her illness. Her eyes sparkled and there was an energy about her that bespoke health. Thank the Star God the nanobots had worked.