Duel Citizenship Read online

  Wrapping his arms around her waist, he rested in her lap, trying to pull himself back together. Her touch was light on his shoulders. She traced the muscles of his back, ran her fingertips along his spine.

  “I’m sorry,” he finally managed.

  Her hands stopped. “For what?”

  “For not lasting longer. For finishing so quickly.” He couldn’t bring himself to look at her as he sat back on his heels. He kept his gaze on the floor.

  Sarah laughed. “I’m amazed you lasted that long. I was using all my best moves on you.”

  He looked at her then, saw the brightness in her eyes.

  The experience they had shared was so far from how things were done among his people. On every level.

  Partners would take a dose of Coupling, then writhe next to or against each other, sometimes not even joining their bodies, and the drug would automatically take them through the stages of arousal and climax. He’d always had to rush to even enter his partner before they would finish, and usually ended up bringing himself to fruition on his own afterwards—an act he kept absolutely secret.

  What he’d considered a brief sense of unity with his shipmates was nothing compared to what he’d shared with Sarah.

  Was this enough for her, though? He had wanted to lay on top of her, to feel their bodies pressed together and joined in the most intimate way.

  “I don’t understand,” he said.

  She leaned forward, running her fingers along his cheekbone.

  “That,” she said, “was the appetizer.”

  Chapter Eight

  The look on Ari’s face as he thought through Sarah’s statement was almost its own form of foreplay. His eyes widened, his mouth dropped open, and then—after a moment—he smiled at her.

  Not one of his beaming megawatt smiles. It was a devilish smile. One that made her wonder what he had planned.

  His earlier reaction had been strange, though. It was almost as if he’d thought the night was already over. If she had anything to do with it, they’d still be enjoying each other the next day.

  His body wasn’t even the most amazing thing about him. The way he used it, the way he seemed to want to feel everything, experience being with her so fully… It was a little intoxicating.

  He leaned forward and kissed her again, one hand burrowing through her hair to hold her close, the other going to the small of her back and pulling her toward the edge of the bed. His tongue delved into her mouth, thrusting as vigorously as his dick had a moment ago.

  He moved his mouth to her neck and shoulder, then across her chest. He lifted her breasts and massaged them, sucking her nipples, stroking them until the ache between her legs became an intense throb. She’d never had someone get her off just through working her breasts. If anyone could, it would be Ari.

  He let out a sound that was half-growl and pressed a kiss to her stomach, then hooked his fingers over the sides of her panties and pulled them down her legs. She fell back onto her elbows. He stared at her core for a few moments, his chest heaving with each breath.

  How the hell was she working him up so much? And she’d thought that she wasn’t his type. She’d been wrong. Really, really wrong.

  He fixed his gaze on hers as he lowered his mouth to the curls between her legs. He pressed a kiss to her, keeping their gazes locked. Then he trailed the backs of his fingers along her slit.

  She knew she would be wet, but was surprised when he slid one of his large fingers deep into her, her body accepting him easily. After not having sex for so long, she thought she’d need more of a warm up.

  Slow down, Sarah.

  She did need a warm up. He was huge, and—wet or not—she wasn’t ready for him.

  He sat back, dropping his gaze to her core as he used his thumb to part the folds of her flesh. “Stars, you are beautiful.”

  A frisson of pleasure snaked through her body that had nothing to do with his hands on her. Okay, it had a little to do with his hands on her. But it was more that she kept getting him to use that odd expression—that being with her was making him lower his shields.

  Because, you know, he’s an alien.

  She laughed inwardly at her earlier thoughts about his watch. Her imagination had really been running wild.

  She turned her attention back to him—what he was doing to her. Anticipation built along with the pleasure he was stoking with his hands. He leaned forward and added his lips to the mix.

  She fell back on the bed. As she stared at the tiny white lights above, she let herself sink into the sensation of him. He thrust his finger deeper, kissing her clit, then circled it with his tongue.

  Electric arcs of sensation darted out from where they touched, lighting up parts of her that she’d ignored for too long. She brought her feet up to rest on the edge of the bed and trailed her fingertips over his scalp to encourage him.

  “I need more before I’ll be ready for you,” she said.

  He slowed his movements briefly, his breath hot against her clit. “More?”

  “I want you to be able to slide into me,” she said. “I’m still too tight.”

  She gasped involuntarily as he withdrew his finger and moved his hand to her hip. He rose up onto the edge of the bed, hooking her thigh over his leg as he easily shifted her entire body back to give himself more room. His dick was already beginning to harden again.

  He brought his thumb to her clit, circling it as he watched her face intently, then he slid his finger back into her. Slowly, he added another.

  Her breath caught in her chest, her back arcing off the bed. He started to pull away.

  “Don’t stop,” she said.

  He paused briefly, then thrust his fingers deep.

  She let out a sigh. “Oh, stars…”

  She managed to catch his gaze long enough to smile at him. He smiled back and his hesitation vanished.

  He leaned down to kiss her neck as his hand continued to thrust between her legs, pumping faster, his thumb swirling around her clit. The arcs of electric pleasure were shooting through her nerves faster, more frequently. He bent his head to her chest, somehow balancing on his elbow to not crush her as he lifted her breast against his mouth, sucking her nipple in deep.

  That was enough. The energy he’d been building exploded in a white-hot burst of fireworks along her nerves.

  Her back arced further, her hips bucking against his hand as he kept thrusting his fingers into her, grinding against her clit with the heel of his hand. She writhed on him, pulling every ounce of pleasure she could from his touch, from his kiss. Heart pounding, body singing, she finally collapsed back on the bed.

  He pushed her closer to the middle of the mattress and pressed his chest to hers, his dick rock-hard and prodding her thigh.

  “Condoms,” she said.

  He looked confused for a moment, as if he was so caught up in the moment that he’d forgotten them. But then he grabbed the box and tore it open, fumbling with the foil packets inside. She picked one up and opened it, rising so that she could help him put it on.

  Stars, he’s huge.

  She smiled at her own thought, loving both the expression and that using it felt so natural to her.

  It didn’t matter if being with him was a short-term thing. She knew she wouldn’t be the same after this. Being with him—in and out of bed—had changed her.

  When his dick was covered, she gripped his shoulders and lay back, pulling him with her. He held himself up on his elbows, their chests touching, though he kept his weight from crushing her.

  His eyes squeezed shut as he slid into her, slowly parting her flesh. He stretched her so far, her body ached from it in the best possible way.

  She was already throbbing around him, ready to go off if he moved even a little. He held himself there for a moment, giving them both a chance to adjust.

  “That feels too good,” she said.

  “Agreed.” He pressed himself deeper, his hips grinding against her clit. “I’d like to experiment.” />
  Her stomach flipped nervously. “Experiment how?”

  “Different movements. Positions. I want to learn what gives us each the greatest pleasure.”

  “Sounds like a noble cause.”

  He sat back on his heels, keeping her tight against his dick by holding onto her hips and drawing her up his thighs. She wrapped her legs around his waist, feeling him slide deeper into her. With the pressure off of her clit, her body backed away from the edge a bit, giving her more space to enjoy the feel of him.

  Drawing his dick out slowly as she angled her hips away, he moaned, then slid back in. He seemed to be savoring this experience as well. He put his hands under her thighs to help hold her up, pumping faster.

  Her core stretched to fit him, tugging on his dick every time he pulled out, her belly filling with pleasure as he thrust himself back in. Heat uncurled through her, building along with the pressure between her legs.

  “I’m not going to last much longer,” he said.

  She wasn’t either. She slid her hand between her legs, swirling her fingers over her clit. His eyes widened, watching her add to the pleasure he was giving her, slamming into her faster and harder. A final deep stroke sent her over the edge, her back flexing, driving her shoulders down into the mattress as she called his name.

  He let out a grunt, then started pounding into her. Her core hugged his dick, pulsing around it, coaxing even more out of him. The waves of her climax went on and on.

  Finally, he fell forward, catching himself on his elbows to keep from crushing her. His dick was buried so deep, stretching her, filling her. Echoing pulses sounded faintly along her nerves as their bodies calmed. She couldn’t tell which were from her and which from him.

  “That was the most amazing union I’ve ever experienced.” He nuzzled her ear, then pressed a gentle kiss against her neck. “Thank you.”

  “Anytime. Like, seriously.” She let out a deep sigh and shook her head, feeling herself relax deeply. “That was…”

  Ari glanced over at the pile of foil packets next to them. He looked back at her and grinned. “An appetizer.”

  Chapter Nine

  Earth wasn’t bewildering. It was fantastic.

  Ari stretched, feeling Sarah shift next to him and curl closer to his side. The sun had risen hours ago, but they hadn’t left the bed. Except for the interlude when she stood, leaning forward against it. And then against the wall when he’d intercepted her coming back from the bathroom.

  They had only managed to keep their hands off each other long enough to run back downstairs and eat, and take brief naps between sessions of unity. Sometimes, they stayed awake afterwards and talked.

  She had led a textile company—one that focused on sustainability and quality. After conquering that challenge, she had turned her attention to helping people in this community. Teaching them to live in harmony with themselves, each other, and the world. Her values were directly in line with what he and the Department of Homeworld Security were trying to accomplish.

  He was learning so much. He would never get enough of this—of her.

  She was beautiful and smart. Funny and so giving. She knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to go after it. For all of her gentleness, he sensed strength like the hull of a starship within her.

  He wanted to learn more, especially about what they could become. But he would have to leave eventually. He would have to leave soon.

  “I want breakfast,” she said. “But I also don’t want to get up. It’s a dilemma.”

  He laughed, stroking her hair away from her face. “Food is important. Come on.”

  He helped her up, then swung his legs over the side of the bed. How long had it been since he’d checked in with Kira? He needed to take care of that right away.

  “Why don’t you go downstairs and get started,” he said. “I’m going to run to the bathroom and then I’ll join you.”

  “Okay.” She leaned forward and kissed him, lingering a bit. Then she sighed and crawled across the bed. She picked up her dress from the night before and pulled it over her head, then shimmied into her panties.

  “Do you really think those are necessary?” He loved the idea of being able to slide into her whenever they wanted, without any more delay than putting on another condom. Which they were running low on, now that he thought about it.

  “I don’t want to be tempted. No sex downstairs.” She smirked at him, then said, “But breakfast won’t take long.”

  “Sounds good.”

  He waited for her to disappear down the ladder to the kitchen before grabbing his own clothes and heading for the bathroom. After using the facilities and quickly dressing, he activated a secure communications channel to Kira, keeping his watch close to his lips and speaking as quietly as he could.

  “Your report is two hours late.” The voice was male. Not Kira. “What have you found?”

  “Rin? Where’s Kira?”

  “Dealing with the newest shitstorm.”

  Of all the Sadirians on Earth, Rin had most readily adapted to human curse words. Embraced them, even.

  “Emergency meeting of the First Contact committee,” Rin said. “I mean Department of Homeworld Security.”

  Ari could almost hear Rin rolling his eyes—a gesture he’d picked up from Brendan’s sister, Paige.

  An emergency meeting could mean many things. None of them good.

  “Have we located the Centaurans finally?”

  “That’s the least of our problems. We received a coded transmission from Adam. Apparently, the High Council is reviewing his report on the Tau Ceti threat, but think it’s been blown out of proportion. He hasn’t even broached the topic of the changes to our society that we’re hoping for or recognizing Earth’s Department of Homeworld Security.”

  Ari’s stomach sank. This was beyond bad news. It was potentially catastrophic, for Earth and the Coalition.

  The High Council had backed themselves into a corner without realizing it. They controlled every aspect of Sadirian life—even designing the DNA of the citizens they approved for creation.

  Drugs like Coupling and Balance were meant to keep everyone in line, but they also dulled creativity and prevented innovation. Nothing new had been developed within their culture for thousands of years. They were still coasting on the technological developments that had hurled their people into space—and let them dominate every sentient species they encountered.

  Most sentients only joined the Coalition for access to the technology—or if the High Council used their technology to force them to. But some of those sentients had taken it upon themselves to make improvements. Like the Tau Ceti. They were a threat, and one the High Council shouldn’t disregard.

  “What’s Adam going to do about it?” Ari said.

  “That’s not our problem. The High Council is concerned about his interest in Earth. They’re sending a replacement ship to investigate whether the planet needs to be brought into the Coalition early.”

  Cygnus X. That would destroy the Earth and subjugate humanity in a way most Earthlings couldn’t imagine.

  “What ship?” Ari said.

  “The Reckoning.”

  The last bit of hope Ari had held onto faded. He put his hands on either side of the sink and bowed his head.

  When there was a chance for a peaceful resolution, the High Council sent in the Arbiter. It was meant to be both a show of strength and mercy. If Adam could resolve the situation through diplomacy, he would. And the ship was fully armed in case a stronger course of action was needed.

  The Reckoning was sent in when the Council wasn’t bothering with diplomacy. Commander Teisha was known for her swift decisions and brutal enforcement of Coalition law. She did as the High Council said, and if they wanted Earth brought into the Coalition, it would happen.

  “Ari, are you there?”

  “Yes. What are my orders?”

  “I don’t know. This is happening kind of suddenly. The Reckoning was on assignment in a distant sy
stem, so we have a few weeks.”

  It didn’t seem like enough time to accomplish anything. Except enjoy his last few hours with Sarah. He doubted he would see her again after this.

  “I’m going to continue my mission,” Ari said. “I haven’t figured out the source of those readings yet.”

  “Well, hurry up. Kira might call you back here the moment their meeting is over.”

  “Understood.”

  Ari terminated the transmission.

  Moons. What could he do to help Earth? To protect it—and Sarah—from this?

  He had traveled with the Arbiter to hundreds of Coalition planets. They’d all been stripped bare, trading their natural resources for access to the technology the High Council promised.

  And when their planets couldn’t support life anymore, and all the people were huddled under domes, the High Council stepped in to help, managing the population, genetically engineering people who could survive on less and perform specific duties—for them. The Council was only saving sentient species from situations that they had helped to create.

  There had to be a better way.

  “Hey, Ari?”

  Sarah called to him from the trap door that led below. He cleared his throat, before calling back.

  “Yeah.”

  “Could you come down here?”

  “Sure.”

  He had a mission. He needed to focus. But he also needed…Sarah.

  It had been twenty-four hours since they’d met, and he already couldn’t imagine spending a day without her. Now that he knew what his colleagues were experiencing, he understood their choices so much better.

  He climbed down the ladder into the kitchen. Sarah was standing near the sink.

  “Did you come down here and clean up last night?” she said.

  “No.” He wouldn’t even have known how. Brendan had people who took care of all the cooking and cleaning in the mansion where they were all living.

  Sarah opened the door of the refrigeration unit and peered inside. “All the leftovers are in here. And the counters are cleaned, the dishes done and put away.” She turned back to Ari, her brow furrowed.