Syfi Warriors Page 14

  “Hey Val! JJ is waving for you to come over. I’ll help these guys out.” Tina walked over and leaned over the bar to give the three men a good view of her breasts. Damn Tina and her plastic-surgery-enhanced bouncy breasts.

  She grabbed a bottle from the cooler and stormed out from behind the bar, heading toward the one man she’d hoped to avoid that night—Deputy Sheriff JJ Dawson. As a deputy sheriff, he was okay. As a man she once dated, he could be a real ass at times.

  She brought the bottle of vodka, the only liquor in the place, and refilled JJ’s glass. Buz kept the bottle here just for JJ to keep him happy. At that moment, all she wanted to do was smack JJ upside the head. He wasn’t just on his way to being drunk, he also had some woman sitting on his lap, possibly in an attempt to make her jealous. Well, she was done with men. All they’d done was prove to be unreliable, lying, cheating bastards.

  She turned to walk back to the bar but JJ grabbed her arm to stop her.

  “Let go, JJ.”

  JJ moved the other woman off. “Honey, go pick a song on the jukebox.”

  The woman glared at Val before walking away.

  “Let me go, JJ. I’m working.”

  JJ pulled her to him. “Come on, babe, I’ll take you back in a heartbeat.”

  She snorted. “JJ, I broke up with you. I don’t want back with you. Let go!” She tried to jerk away but he held on so tight it was starting to hurt.

  “I believe the female asked to be released,” a male voice said from behind her.

  She turned to look up at the handsome man with the golden eyes standing just inches away from her. He was freaking enormous, towering over her—he had to be close to seven feet tall. Looking up into the stranger’s face, she almost forgot that JJ still had her wrist until he squeezed painfully.

  “Damn it, JJ! You’re hurting me!”

  Before she could even blink, the stranger had pried JJ’s hand off her and stepped between them. The guy was so hulking she had to take a step to the side to look around him. JJ was scared shitless. Then he turned his fear into rage and started to reach for his gun. She didn’t want this handsome stranger to get shot just for helping her. She moved forward.

  “JJ, calm down.”

  “Get out of the way, Val,” JJ warned, trying to get to his feet.

  “You’re drunk. Go home and sleep it off.”

  “I’m going to—”

  “Do nothing,” another familiar voice said.

  Val turned and breathed a sigh of relief at seeing Sheriff Jenkins. He was older but a real good man. Now he was someone she could count on. If he wasn’t twice her age and happily married, he would be perfect for her.

  “JJ, didn’t I tell you what I would do if you let your drinking out of hand?”

  “I was minding my own business talking to Val, then this stranger tried to start up trouble.”

  “That’s not what happened, Sheriff Jenkins. I brought JJ his vodka and he grabbed my arm. I told him to let go, but he wouldn’t. When he started hurting me, this guy—”

  “Markus,” the stranger supplied.

  Even his name was sexy. “Markus here stepped between us to help me.”

  Sheriff Jenkins looked at her wrist, which had red marks on it. “He injured you. Val, do you want to press charges?”

  “No, I just want him to leave me alone.”

  “You’re a lucky son of a bitch, JJ. If Val was my daughter and you treated her that way, I would have beat the shit out of you. Go home, or I’ll arrest you for assault anyway.”

  JJ stood up, wobbling a bit. The woman that he had been with evidently decided to spend time with someone else. JJ walked to the door of the bar and glanced at her once more before leaving.

  “Val, I’m sorry he’s being a real dick.”

  “It’s not your fault, Sheriff.”

  “He wasn’t always like this. He’s gotten worse since his mother died. She usually kept him in line.” Sheriff Jenkins turned to look Markus up and down. “You passing through?”

  “I’ll be here a few days.”

  “Well, thank you for helping Val. She’s family to us here in Dragoon.”

  Sheriff Jenkins walked off to go check on a few rowdy customers, leaving her alone with the sexy stranger.

  “Thanks for coming to my aid.”

  “No female should ever be manhandled.”

  She smiled; his accent made him sound kind of old fashioned. “I’m Valorie Castle, Val for short.” She offered her hand to shake.

  He took her hand but didn’t shake it, just held it in his and smiled. “I’m Markus.”

  “No last name?”

  “No, just Markus.”

  “Well, thank you. Let me get you a drink, on the house.”

  “Actually, I need to be going. My friends and I plan to camp out. Do you have any recommendations?”

  “Triangle T Guest Ranch. Some of the campsites aren’t level, so check the area out first before setting up your tents.”

  “I appreciate the information. Should you get your wound checked out?”

  She tingled when he reached for her wrist to turn it over. His touch was gentle and all she wanted was to rub her body against his.

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “Should you call your male or family?”

  “I’m alone and can take care of myself.”

  He glanced over at the bar. His friends were standing and walking toward the door. “I have to leave. I will see you again, Valorie.”

  His accent was so hot when he said her name like that.

  “Have a good night, Markus.” She watched as he walked away, enjoying the view of his ass in those tight jeans. Now there was a man she would willingly commit a small felony for. He was just that hot.

  Chapter 5

  Markus stood in the dark shadows of the abandoned building across the street, watching the bar. His people had planned for just about every contingency, using translator implants to aid him with the Earth languages, trading the mineral composites Earthlings called precious jewels for the money used in that area. What none of them could have planned on was him—and his dragon—instantly being attracted to a tiny Earthling female.

  He had entered the bar with his fellow warriors, intending only to ask a few questions about the history of the small town suspiciously named Dragoon. Walking through the door, he was bombarded with the mixed scents of males and females, dust, and alcohol that Earthlings—humans—liked to drink. His friend Sonar wanted to look for somewhere else to search for answers. He was about to agree, but caught sight of something to the left where a big wooden counter sat with stools in front—a bar. It wasn’t the bar that caught his attention, it was the person behind the bar.

  A blonde-haired female was working, handing out drinks. The data collected stated that on Earth the females worked alongside the males; they did not need a protector. This was different from his culture and it seemed wrong to see someone so fragile working hard. He couldn’t help himself, he approached the bar and placed his order.

  When she looked up into his eyes, his entire body felt a spark. She had the most amazing pair of blue eyes. The color was rare on his homeworld. He must have caught her off guard because she seemed to stare at him in shock. He attempted to smile to put her at ease, and the reaction he got from her was interest. His inner dragon stirred with interest as well. No female had interested both him and his dragon—ever.

  On Drakonia, their dragon and humanoid form would choose a female that they both wanted, then mate with her. Markus had been too young to choose a female before the enemy attacked. On the long journey to find one of the planets their people had been sent to, he had shared sex with the few females on board, but none of them had excited his dragon.

  He sat on the stool, despite the uncomfortableness of the Earth pants, and now his cock was stiffening, making it even more awkward. He ignored the looks his companions were giving him and concentrated on the female before him.

  Her voice was a mix of soft a
nd husky—it sent shivers down his body. Her hair was held up with some kind of band and the part hanging down would sway or brush against her shoulders whenever she moved. He longed to take down her hair and spread it out on a bed while he covered her body with his own. His sexual thoughts were interrupted by the other female that sashayed their way.

  “Hey, Val! JJ is waving for you to come over. I’ll help these guys out.”

  What kind of name was Val? He glanced at the second woman, who didn’t hesitate to flirt and lean across the bar to show off her large breasts. She was a tall black-haired female, attractive and curvy, the way he usually liked females, but she didn’t excite him or his dragon.

  Turning his back on her, he watched the blonde female walk over to a table near the back of the room. She wore short pants that were tight and showed off her curvy ass, which he and his dragon were drooling over.

  When the male grabbed her arm, nothing could have kept Markus in his seat. He stormed toward the table, people tripping to get out of his way. He could sense the female was hurting from how tight the male was holding her. It was unacceptable to hurt any female.

  “I believe the female asked to be released,” he said, surprising the struggling pair.

  The male sitting down didn’t even bother to stand in the face of danger. What kind of warrior was this?

  “Damn it, JJ! You’re hurting me!”

  Markus acted quickly, removing the male’s grip and placing his body in front of hers in case the male struck out. He had some kind of weapon on his waist but Markus knew he could disarm him quickly if needed. He was frustrated when the female moved around to place herself in danger.

  “JJ, calm down.”

  “Get out of the way, Val.” The male got to his feet, and Markus almost smirked at how small the male was. He would be no match for him even in humanoid form. His dragon wanted to use his fire to burn him to nothing, but Markus used restraint.

  Another male appeared, wearing a badge similar to the one the male named JJ wore. This male was small too, but he was older and had wisdom in his eyes.

  The female explained the situation but Markus never stopped watching this JJ person. He could attack. The female looked at him and he told her his name.

  “Markus.”

  “Markus here stepped between us to help me.”

  “He wasn’t always like this. He’s gotten worse since his mother died. She usually kept him in line.” Sheriff Jenkins turned to look Markus up and down. “You passing through?”

  Markus didn’t care what excuses the male had, it was no reason to treat a female the way he had. “I’ll be here a few days.”

  “Well, thank you for helping Val. She’s family to us here in Dragoon.” The older male named Sheriff Jenkins left.

  “Thanks for coming to my aid.”

  “No female should ever be manhandled.”

  She smiled at him. “I’m Valorie Castle, Val for short.” She offered her hand to him.

  He took her hand and held it in his, smiling at her warmly. “I’m Markus.”

  “No last name?”

  Last name? He paused imperceptibly before responding, “No, just Markus.”

  “Well, thank you. Let me get you a drink, on the house.”

  “Actually, I need to be going. My friends and I plan to camp out. Do you have any recommendations?”

  “Triangle T Guest Ranch. Some of the campsites aren’t level, so check the area out first before setting up your tents.”

  “I appreciate the information. Should you get your wound checked out?”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “Should you call your male or family?”

  “I’m alone and can take care of myself.”

  If she belonged to Markus, he would never allow her to be placed in such danger. Unfortunately, she wasn’t his. He glanced over at the bar. His companions were standing and walking toward the door. “I have to leave. I will see you again, Valorie.”

  He sat outside the bar, guarding her to make sure that male JJ didn’t come back. When she came out of the bar by herself, he followed her down the street to a building he assumed she lived in. Once she was safely inside, he felt he could return to his waiting companions.

  Chapter 6

  “I have directions to the campsite,” Sonar told him as he approached his friends.

  “How far away?”

  “A few miles. We’ll need to drive there since shifting would draw attention to us here in the open.”

  They had bought a used vehicle with the gems they’d traded for Earth’s money. It took a few days, but eventually Markus had learned how to operate it properly. “Let’s go.”

  Markus was the only one that could drive the vehicle. Sonar sat next to him. Their third silent companion, sitting in the back, was Warrior Roan. The male had barely spoken a word since they’d arrived. The male was prepared to handle Sonar if he had another episode. Markus still resented having him there, but he would make sure Sonar was on his best behavior.

  It was late, but the ranch looked like its lights were still on. When he parked, someone came out onto the front porch. He greeted them when Markus got out of the car.

  “You boys are in luck. I was just about to go to bed. You needing a place to stay?”

  Markus approached him slowly. “Yes.”

  “Do you have your own camping gear or do you need to rent a cabin?”

  “We have no gear. Do you have a cabin farther out, away from everyone else? We like privacy.”

  The male looked from Markus to the two still in the car. “You aren’t troublemakers, are ya?”

  “No, we mean no trouble. We will be here a few days only, passing through.”

  The male still didn’t look sure he wanted them there. “I don’t take out-of-town checks.”

  “We have cash.”

  That got the male’s attention. “Cash? It’s going to cost ya a hundred a night because there’s more than one of ya.”

  “We will pay for a week, even if we do not stay the whole week.”

  “Seven days? That will work…I have a family coming in next week that wanted that same cabin.”

  “That will be fine. I’ll pay up front.” Markus walked up to the porch and pulled out the paper money. “I believe this is seven hundred.”

  The male looked excited as he reached for the money. He quickly counted it then smiled. “What’s your name? I’ll add you to the guest log.”

  “Markus.”

  “Markus what? What’s your last name, son?”

  He’d forgotten again that humans used both a first and last name. “Markus…Dragon.”

  “Dragon?” The male chuckled. “You sure did come to the right place. Take the dirt road on the right until it runs out. The cabin will be on the right.”

  “Is it locked?”

  The male looked at him like he was being ridiculous. “Son, we’re in the middle of nowhere. The cabin is bare minimum. There’s nothing to steal. No wild parties and nothing illegal. This is a family-friendly campsite.”

  “Yes, sir. Thank you.” Markus went to get back inside the car. He started it up and drove down the dirt and gravel road. It was really bumpy, and areas were slanted in some places. Pulling up to the cabin, he turned to his companions. “Let’s shift to dragon form and take to the sky. Stay away from the populated area. We need to look for any signs of other dragons.”

  They got out and undressed. Roan spoke for the first time. “What if we don’t find anything? How many days will we remain here?”

  “If we can’t find anything, I’ll send out a sonar call. That will reach for miles. We’ll give it a few days to see if anyone answers the call before we leave.”

  They shifted into dragon form. Sonar was a blue-and-black-scaled dragon, slightly smaller than his own golden-and-black-scaled dragon. Roan had red and black scales.

  They flew toward the Dragoon Mountains and over the nearby lake. It was a beautiful planet which differed in landscapes as much as the D
rakonian dragons differed in the color of their scales. He was tempted to shift and take a dip in the lake. It probably wouldn’t be a good idea until they secured the area around the campsite.

  He nodded his head for the others to head back to the cabin. He flew up, letting the wind under his wings lift him higher and higher, then he opened his jaws and howled out a sonar call. Hopefully, they would finally find their people…maybe his mother and sister. He’d missed them over the years. His sister would be eighteen now or, actually…she would have lived hundreds of years. Would she still be alive? Maybe mated with children? He missed his family and had thought of them often. It was the one thought all of his fellow warriors had that kept them going when they could have given up and found a planet to live on. They all hoped to be reunited with their loved ones.

  It had been hard for them during the long years of space travel. There had been a whole year that went by that they had not found a planet that they could spend any time on where the atmosphere could accommodate his people. Markus found that outer space could be a dark and lonely place to be, even when surrounded by hundreds of his own people. Other than his best friend Sonar, he had not bonded to any of the few females they had on board.

  There had been three hundred warriors and a hundred females when they first left Drakonia in the midst of a battle with their enemy. They provided coverage while the other battle cruisers tried to escape with more of their people. He still could see the moment one of the escape cruisers was shot down in the sky. It would forever be with him. The other escape cruiser made it out, but they had no idea where it went. During ten years of searching, they had not found any of their survivors. The four hundred on board dwindled down drastically as some sought their final flight. Half of the females bonded with warriors on board, the other half found no bond. Many warriors felt the weariness of their travel, and at times the hopelessness. If they could have at least found a female to bond with, even one not of their species, it would have filled the emptiness many of them felt.

  Instead of going to the cabin, he flew back toward the small town, keeping high up enough that no one would see him. He intended to just do a perimeter check, but his dragon had other ideas. Without any real thought to it, his dragon sought the one female he had found interest in after all these years.