Syfi Warriors Page 24

  “Are these what you’re looking for?” Nova asked a few moments later.

  He turned to her. She held both items up in her hands.

  “Yeah. That’s it. Can you bring them here?” he asked.

  Nova walked toward him, handing him the photo album first. She stared at the hard drive, running her fingers over the smooth surface. “What is this?”

  “It’s a hard drive. It’s got a bunch of pictures on it that I’ve been saving for my mom. She’d kill me if I didn’t bring it.”

  “Pictures?” she said, handing the device to him.

  James opened the picture album and showed her the first page. “Yeah memories. Do you have anything like this on Delphi?”

  Nova nodded. “Yes. We have something very similar except it displays on a screen and slides through each picture on the wall.”

  “Guess our species have at least a few things in common.”

  “We aren’t so different. I know it is not ideal, but I do hope you will find happiness on Delphi,” Nova said.

  James put the album and hard drive in his bag and zipped it shut. “I’m not ready to give up on Earth quite yet.”

  “If there is another way, I’m sure my people will do everything they can to save your planet.”

  “Your people have gone to a lot of trouble for strangers,” James said, studying her.

  Nova looked at the floor and sighed. “It is our fault your world is in peril. It is the right thing to do to fix our mistakes. What would it make us if we sat by watching as the Imanji destroyed species after species when we led them there in the first place?”

  She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and continued, “Besides, they’ll come for Delphi’s citizens again once they feel they’re strong enough. By fighting them here and now it gives us a chance to defend our world.”

  “But it’s not your fight,” James said. “Would the Imanji attack Delphi in your life time?”

  Nova bit her lip, sucking it between her teeth. His eyes trained on her mouth as she continued to chew on her lip. It was wonderfully pink and full. What would it be like to kiss it?

  “Probably not,” she answered.

  “Then it makes you and your crew brave.”

  “Would your people not do the same?” Nova asked, releasing her lip.

  James considered her question. “There are some of us that would,” he said with a nod. “We have a military just like yours where we train soldiers. I used to be in a division of it called the Marines.”

  “So, you are a warrior, then?”

  James chuckled. “I guess you could say that. Or at least I used to be. I resigned and was honorably discharged so I could help out on the farm with my parents and Emma.” He looked down at the bag that held the pictures. “Will I be able to find out if my parents were safely evacuated from Atlanta?”

  Nova put her hand on her suit where the communication button was. “I could ask. We try to keep logs of everyone we rescue.”

  James huffed and shook his head. “No. Why don’t we wait.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah.” If they were safe he’d be ecstatic, but if they were unaccounted for it would only distract him from his duties. As much as he loved his parents the entire town was counting on him to get them to safety. Nova was already a big enough distraction as it was; he didn’t need to add to it. Once he’d ensured the town’s safety then he’d find out and launch a rescue mission if needed. “You know, maybe we could get some rest. Tomorrow will be a long day and we need to be at the top of our game. I’m sure Emma wouldn’t mind if you borrowed her room for a few hours. I’ll set my alarm.”

  Nova rocked up on her tiptoes. “Some rest might not be a bad idea. I’ll see you in a few hours then.”

  James scrubbed a hand over his face. Sleep would be good.

  Nova tossed and turned before staring up at the ceiling. Her body was exhausted, but no matter how long she lay with her eyes shut, sleep just wouldn’t come.

  Too much was on her mind. The mission. These people were counting on her to get them to safety. James and Emma had quickly wormed their way into her heart, James in a different way than Emma. He was similar to the males on her planet, but different at the same time.

  There was something about him that called to her, awakening a part of her she’d never known before. James was attractive, but his personality was what differentiated him from anyone else. He was one of a kind. It was silly to have affection for him, though. They were from two different worlds. Would he even consider a relationship with her? Her parents would disown her if she fell for an otherworlder. Did that matter? They’d already cast her aside.

  She tossed the covers back and stood up. Creeping over the floorboards, she peeked into the hallway. Silence and darkness. She blinked a few times until her eyes adjusted.

  There was a bathroom at the end of the hall. She’d seen it earlier when she’d retrieved the items for James. Maybe a shower would help ease her worries away.

  She moved slowly, careful not to make noise and disturb James. It’d be good if at least one of them could get a good night’s rest. She pushed the bathroom door open, wincing when it creaked.

  Nova held her breath, waiting to see if James would wake. When she heard nothing, she stepped inside and looked around. The facility was nothing like the bathrooms on Delphi. The toilet and shower were similar enough that she recognized them, but they were archaic – looks like there will be no steam shower tonight, she mused.

  Bending down, she studied the three knobs by the shower. She twisted the first one, frowning when water trickled out for a few seconds and then stopped. Her fingers went to the next one, turning it too. Nothing happened. Maybe it was broken?

  “It won’t work.”

  Nova screeched, whirling around so fast she lost her balance. She stumbled but caught herself on a bar holding several towels. Her eyes flickered to James as his hand latched onto her elbow.

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. I heard a noise and came to check it out. Are you okay?” he asked, his grip tightening as he helped to right her.

  She put her free hand on her chest where her heart beat rapidly. “I thought you were sleeping.”

  “Couldn’t sleep. Too much on my mind. Are you hurt?” His eyes dipped down, giving her a onceover.

  “I don’t think so,” she said, her gaze going to his hand that was still on her elbow. A pair of shorts covered his lower half, but his torso was completely bare. Muscles stretched across his skin and the sight sent a wave of tingles straight to her core. What would it be like to have his hands all over her body? She cleared her throat and looked at the shower. “Why won’t it work?”

  “The house has a well that supplies the water. There’s no power so the well pump won’t work.”

  “Oh.”

  “We have a generator but limited fuel for it so I haven’t powered it up. With the aliens out there I’m not sure it’d be a great idea. It’s kind of noisy,” James said.

  “The less noise we make the better.” Looks like her shower would have to wait. Maybe there were some cloths she could use with the bottled water they had in the truck. It’d be nice to clean up a little bit at least.

  “There’s a stream that runs behind the back of the property. I don’t see myself sleeping. If you’d like I can take you there. It’s big enough and has enough tree cover we could both get cleaned up.”

  Nova bit her lip as she considered his offer. Sleep wasn’t going to happen. It would be nice to get cleaned up, but was it a good idea to be so close to him while doing it? They’d both be naked.

  The idea sent a shiver running down her spine and straight to her core. Did James look the same as a phoenix male? Were the two of them even compatible to be together?

  She shook the thoughts away when she realized he was waiting for her answer. “Sure. I’d like that.”

  What was she getting herself into?

  Chapter 7

  The drive to the stream
was short and quiet. James shifted in his seat as he put the truck in gear. The silence was deafening and had grown awkward.

  He should’ve never suggested coming to the stream. Even if there were more than enough trees for privacy, he’d be left wondering what she looked like beneath her black jumpsuit. The idea of her being naked in the same water as him was enough to make his cock harden. He’d gotten himself into a real mess.

  “Is this it?” Nova asked leaning forward in her seat. She blinked, her gaze fixating on something in the distance.

  “Yeah. Come on.” He grabbed the towels and bag of toiletries he’d thrown together before climbing out.

  “Is the water hot?” Nova asked, exiting too.

  “It should be in the upper seventies this time of year.”

  She made a face and it occurred to him that her species probably didn’t measure temperature the same way his did. Hell, the rest of the world measured it differently too.

  James cleared his throat and shifted the items in his hand so he could hand her a towel and soap. “Here.” He gave her the items. Her fingers brushed against his and instead of letting go, he held on. “Do you need anything else?”

  Nova shook her head. “I don’t think so. I’ll be done in a few.”

  “Sure. I’ll be just over there.” He pointed to a bend in the stream that had plenty of trees, keeping them both from being able to see anything.

  “Okay,” Nova said, finally taking the towel and toiletries. Heat radiated through him from where her touch had been. She was so warm and inviting.

  He ducked his head down and forced himself to take a step back. He collected his things against his chest and turned, making his way to the other end of the stream. Part of him wanted to look back, but he knew it’d be wrong to snoop, especially while she was undressing. He forced his eyes to focus on the trees ahead until he stopped at the shore.

  James set his towel on a rock and kicked off his shoes. His socks and shirt came off next. He put his fingers on the button of his jeans, but halted his movements when a screech pierced the air.

  His heart pounded against his ribs. Nova.

  He raced toward her screams. When he found her she was floating in the air in her phoenix form. Fire rolled along her tail and wings like a continuous fountain, but it didn’t drip to the ground. Beneath her sat a snake. He chuckled glad it was just a rat snake and not one of the poisonous varieties.

  James went to the snake and picked it up before moving it safely away from her. “There. It’s safe now.”

  The bird cocked its head at him for a moment before dropping to the ground. The fire simmered out as Nova’s feet and legs transformed. Her black jumpsuit was gone, where he had no idea. She stood before him wearing only a silky bra and panties.

  His breath caught in his throat and his cock hardened to the point of pain. She truly was magnificent.

  “What was that?” she asked. Her hand went to her chest where it pressed against her milky breast.

  “A snake. That one was harmless. There are some that are deadly. I’m guessing you don’t have anything like that where you come from?”

  Nova shook her head, her eyes darting to where he’d set the small creature in the bushes. “Not exactly. Are there more of them around?” Her gaze flicked over the ground as if she were waiting for one to jump out at her any second.

  “Probably not. I think it’s safe if you want to get in now.”

  She nodded while her fingers curled around the strap of her bra. A tremble rolled through her causing her to shudder.

  “You okay?” James asked.

  “Yes, yes, of course.” She bobbed her head up and down adamantly. “We have a similar creature that lives in the water. It is much larger though and will swallow you up before you know what has happened.”

  “Oh.” He didn’t know what else to say to that, other than he hoped if he ever went to her planet he never saw it.

  “They are very rare, mostly in the uninhabited parts.”

  “Your world sounds…lovely.”

  “I must be making it sound awful.” A smile slipped over her features. “It’s not that bad, I promise. It is very different from yours I will admit but the warmth is inviting and the suns and moons light up the sky beautifully.”

  “Suns and moons?”

  “You only have one, we have three of each. It’s why our planet is so hot.”

  He didn’t mind the heat; the cold was another story. “It sounds interesting.”

  “I will show you it when we get there.” She looked at the ground and licked her lips. Her toes trailed in the dirt, dragging a line back and forth in front of her.

  “What about your duties?” he asked curious. Wouldn’t she have to ship out again? Did he want to live on some strange alien world without her there?

  “We will be docked for a week at least. Every time we return to Delphi we restock and effect repairs on the ship. Some of our voyages are short, others not so much. I will have a few days to show you around before I must return to my post.”

  “I think I’d like that, but I’m still holding onto hope that our world will be spared.”

  Nova took a step forward and put her hand over his. He glanced down at it. Heat ebbed into him from her soft touch. “There is always room for hope, James.”

  “I think so too. I’ve seen people come out of things when they shouldn’t have. I’m not ready to give up on my world yet.” He traced his thumb over the back of her hand.

  Her gaze met his and she inched another step closer. Her other hand went to his shoulder, once again touching the bare flesh. She was impossibly warm and with both of her hands now on him he had the perfect view of the swells of her breasts. He forced his eyes to stay on hers.

  Nova’s tongue darted out to wet her lips as she leaned in closer. She stopped a hair’s breadth away from his lips, her gaze once again connecting with his. Was she waiting for him to make a move – to close the distance? His cock strained harder against the confines of his jeans.

  Unable to wait another moment, he lunged forward, capturing her lips with his own. She moaned at the contact and her hands slipped around him until her front was flush against his. Her breasts pressed against his chest and he hoped, prayed that they were physically compatible.

  As if she was reading his mind, her hand wrapped around his and guided it toward the hem of her panties. Inhaling sharply, he slipped it beneath the surface. It only took him a second to slip one finger into her already sopping core. She felt tight and wonderful. They would definitely be compatible, thank goodness because he was already about to burst.

  He backed her toward the water, hoping the coolness of it would help to calm him down. There was no way he was coming without her climaxing first. He set a slow steady rhythm of pumping in and out of her body while gently pushing her to the water’s edge. The current slapped against their bare feet, sending an icy blast through him and causing Nova to grow impossibly closer and warmer.

  Nova took a step back into the water. Her arms went to her bra, gently tugging the straps off her shoulders before unsnapping it in the front. Next, her fingers went to her panties, rolling them down and then tossing them into the pile of clothes by the shore.

  James unbuttoned his jeans and shoved them and his boxers down, quickly kicking them off before following her into the water.

  “You look very much like a phoenix male.” Nova eyed his hardened member. She skimmed her fingers over the top of the water and inhaled a deep breath. “I have never laid with a man that was not a phoenix before.”

  “I’ve never been with a woman who wasn’t human before,” he said with a smile.

  She laughed out loud. “I want to feel you.” She reached out with trembling fingers and wrapped her hand around his length.

  James groaned at the contact. Slowly she pumped her hand up and down before running the top of her thumb over his tip. The rhythm was slow, methodical and it was driving him crazy. If she kept this up things would be over long
before he was ready for them to be.

  He reached down and placed his hand on her wrist to stop her. She blinked up at him with her mesmerizing sapphire eyes. He put both hands on her hips and drew her closer. Then he lifted her up. She kicked up with him and locked her legs at the small of his back. Her center pressed against him, teasing him and making him groan.

  Walking them deeper into the water, he adjusted her and then guided his length to her center. He pushed in slowly, allowing her time to accommodate his girth and length. Her core was so warm, so inviting. He buried himself to the hilt and then pulled out to the tip before sliding home again.

  They moaned together. Nova closed the distance between them and caught his lip with her teeth. She nibbled lightly for a moment before she flicked her tongue into his mouth to taste him.

  James grasped her hips for support and set a steady rhythm. She fit him perfectly, like a glove that had been tailored specifically for him. His orgasm was quickly racing to completion, but he refused to come before her.

  Reaching between them, he found her bundle of nerves and stroked it shamelessly. Nova whimpered, bucking her hips wildly against his. He broke the kiss to pepper kisses down her neck and jawline until he took one of her pert nipples into his mouth.

  She ran her hands through his hair, pulling him closer to where she wanted him to be. He placed a few more kisses before moving on to lavish the other breast all while continue to flutter his finger over the tiny bud between her thighs.

  Nova’s cries grew louder. She bit her lip in what he assumed was an attempt to stifle them. It would be so easy to get caught in the moment and make too much noise. He kissed his way back up to her mouth to capture her wonderful cries of pleasure with his mouth. He lifted her higher to adjust the angle he was penetrating her. The new angle allowed him to go deeper and harder. He quickened his thrusts.

  Nova gripped him tighter. Her body trembled. Her core tightened around him, spasming wonderfully until he couldn’t hold back any longer. He followed her into completion with a growl.