Celestial Beauty (8 page)

Raz grinned, lowering his drink. “Glad to know we’re
not the only race who does such things.”

“
I don’t doubt they only deal with their own. From what
I hear Earth doesn’t have space travel,” Zeb added. “And foolish to allow their
precious females to be stolen from under their noses.”

Celeste stared at him, yet he couldn’t pick her
expression or feelings, and it made him uncomfortable. “You’re right about them
not having space travel, and humanity has many flaws. I’m willing to bet every
species in the whole known galaxy has problems, too.”

“
Very true, Celeste.” Kue patted her hand. “It is
unfortunate that we’ve seen some of the worst the
Hellious Galaxy
has. Be at ease, even though we’re retired, we will
always protect you.”

Her sweet smile stole, no doubt, all their breaths.
Zeb noted how Raz shifted in discomfort beside him, no doubt trying to make his
rod behave.

“
I think I like having my very own alien SWAT team.”
They all froze at her words. Were they hers? They wanted it more than anything.
Her eyes widened as she realized what she’d said, and her smile fell. “I … I
mean…”

“
Hey you forgotten we’re also handsome, strong, and
sexy? Of course I’m far better looking than any of my brothers.” Raz wiggled
his eyebrows, breaking the tension and bringing back her smile. Zeb silently
sighed in relief, but he couldn’t stay silent. He saw the opportunity and was
going to grab it, praying to the Fire Gods it didn’t scare her.

“
You are right, beautiful.” Zeb met her gaze, which
lifted to meet his when he spoke. “We all speak the truth here. We are yours.
All you need to do is take, but only when you’re ready.”

Chapter Eight

Celeste sighed for the millionth time and turned in
her bed. Her skin was hot, so she removed her clothes to cool down, but it did
nothing to relieve the ache, the heaviness in her breasts, or the dampness
between her legs. Arousal simply refused to leave.

Her mind turned towards tomorrow, a whole day with
Zeb. Big strong, in charge, Zeb. The eldest, so he would be the first one to
make love to her.

“
Auugh!” She turned over grabbing the pillow, shoving
it over her head.
My men, my men, my red,
sexy, protective men.

Touch and pleasure
yourself.

All her life she’d never been able to do that, though
not for lack of trying. She’d wanted to experience what it was like to have an
orgasm, even if it was self-induced. She’d start, only to get nowhere, leaving
her feeling frustrated and disappointed in herself. Never had she been this
aroused by any man, so it had to mean something, didn’t it?

It grew increasingly clear she’d never make it through
another day. Hell, she doubted she’d even make it through tonight.

Go to him.

 
I can’t, can I?

Zeb’s words haunted her.
“We are yours. All you need to do is take, but only when you’re ready.”

“
I’m more than ready.” Celeste sat up and swung her
legs off the bed and stood, reaching for the first shirt Kue had given her, the
one she’d turned into a dress.

Her hand shook as she again modified it. With no
mirror she hoped to look pretty enough.

“
I can do this. They want me, and I want them. This is
a way to give something back for their generous kindness.” It was a solid
argument, and she nodded and moved to the door. Why was this harder than when
she’d found the door open on her cage? She’d had courage fuelled by anger.

This was … was what? Securing a future and trying to
find some happiness.
I need to start
listening to them instead of myself. They see me as beautiful, desirable, so I
will be as they say.

The corridor was dark as she stepped into it. She
squinted, trying to remember which direction to Zeb’s room. She was in Kue’s
quarters, and Kue had said he’d take other quarters as there were many on this
level. She remembered he’d pointed out where each of them was, in case she
wanted anything during their rest cycle. Zeb, so Kue had grumbled, inhabited
the old commander’s quarters, the largest and best on the ship. As if her feet
already knew where to go, it wasn’t long before she found herself standing
before Zeb’s door. Why did it appear larger and more imposing in the dimmed
lighting than during Kue’s tour?

Because I’m here
for sex and it’s scaring the crap out of me.
It would be more than just sex. She was laying more than just her body
on the line.

“
This is stupid. I’m being stupid!” Her courage fled,
and she turned to leave at the same time the door slid open.

“
Is there anything you need, Celeste?” Zeb’s deep,
velvety voice sent a shiver down her spine, renewing the dying embers of her
arousal.

“
I uh…” She turned to face him only to have her jaw
drop.
Holy cow!
He was almost naked,
except for the black towel wrapped around his waist. Water droplets still slid
down over the rippled contours of his sculptured chest. As her eyes scanned
down she saw several raised lines, and what looked appeared to have once been
vicious wounds. His scars didn’t detract at all from his sexiness. No, it added
a deeper layer of lethalness to this alien man. He’d fought, been hurt and
survived, many times, from the multiple scarring just on his front. She had no
doubt of their conviction of being able to protect her.

The towel just hooked on his hip, and she could easily
see the V leading down, disappearing under his towel. He utterly oozed sexy,
from even the way he leaned against the door frame, his glittering golden eyes
regarding her.

Talk about zero to one hundred in less than a second.
She’d never get through tomorrow envisioning all this, under his clothes. “Ah,
you’re … wet?”

She mentally hit herself over the head.
Very glib, Celeste
.

His lips curved up into a grin.
 
“It’s what happens when you wash.”

“
Uh, yes, you’re right … I think I need … to uh, go.”

She squeaked in surprise when he suddenly gripped her
arms, pulling her into his room, the door sliding shut behind them. “You can go
once you’ve told me truthfully why you came to my door, beautiful.”

Truth
, there was that word again. She sighed as he let her
go and stepped back, regarding her with heated curiosity. It was hard to think
with so much raw masculine power before her. Her fingers were itching to touch,
wondering if she’d get burned if she tried.

“
Truth?” Damn, she squeaked out the word like a mouse.

“
Yes, truth.” He folded his arms making his muscles
bunch. She gulped.

I can do this, I
can do this!
“I want you!” she blurted out
squeezing her eyes shut, feeling her cheeks flame red.

“
Celeste.” A gentle finger under her chin, lifting her
head, and she opened her eyes to meet his golden gaze.

“
How do you want me?”

“
Y-you’re the oldest. Loc said y-you have to go first—”
Had she been wrong all this time? Maybe he didn’t want her after all. Her heart
sank as a sudden pain speared though her.

“
Hey, now, no sad face.” His voice gentled, and he ran
his hand down her arm, capturing her hand to hold it in his warmer one. “You are
not wrong. Loc informed you correctly. Trust me, I want you more than I’ve ever
wanted any female, and not just to pleasure.”

Her heart pounded against her chest, making her feel
dizzy as he moved in closer, and the air round them felt superheated. “You told
me to come you when I was ready. I am as ready as I’ll ever be. I wouldn’t be
able to stand another day of looking at all you without being able to touch.
But I’m also frightened.”

He nodded. “You need never fear me or my brothers, but
know if you accept me, Celeste, I will take charge. I will do what I want to
pleasure you, and you will accept everything I say and do.” He dropped to his
knees, bringing her chest straight into his eye level. He looked up, and she
almost gasped at their swirling golden intensity, the want—the need burning
within them.

“
Always know, harm is never my object. You are safe
with me, always. I need you to trust that in my hands, in our care…” He ran his
large right hand down the length of her arm, making her skin prickle and her
breath quicken at the contact, like scorching lava through her already heated
veins. “You will be protected and treasured. The only screams will be those of
ecstasy, never pain. This is no passing fancy. We want you as our
sheraz
, our wife. We will do our best to
give you everything you need and want for the rest of our lives.”

Celeste was torn between wanting to cry over his
heart-melting words and throwing herself into his arms screaming,
yes, yes, yes
! Where in the universe
would she ever find not one, but four men so wonderful and devoted?

She swallowed and nodded. Somehow she already knew
there was no going back, the moment she stepped out of her quarters. “I accept,
and I will trust. It’s not easy for me to trust anyone, so I ask for patience.”

He moved in closer, his deep voice like silk over her
skin. “Of course, we’re not going anywhere. We’re here for you, always,
beautiful.”

“
I … I have no one, nothing on Earth, and I want my new
life to be with you, Raz, Loc, and Kue.”

He rose to his feet. His height and the intensity of
his stare making her tremble, she took a step back, trapping herself against
the wall. He rested one arm above her. Then, he dipped his head low, his lips
close to her neck, and as she felt the heat of his breath and body so close, he
inhaled deeply.

She fought not to moan as erotic chills ran down her
spine, and he hadn’t really touched her yet. Her body responded like a bitch in
heat. God, she wanted him, but she was still desperately shy, scared to reach
out and touch him.

“
You are…” He pushed himself closer, his fingertips
brushing against the inside of her leg, making her shudder. “So beautiful. I
need one thing more from you, Celeste. Can you, will you, give me what I
desire?”

She glance up, confused at what he meant. She had
nothing to give, yet she had everything. “I … yes, if I can give it.”

His handsome face was breathtaking when his lips
curved up into a sensual smile. “Will you give me full control over you?”

Full control, he’d already promised never to hurt her
… but surrender to him in every way, trust him fully? His hand skimmed higher,
and his other hand took her wrist slowly raising it above her head, as if
giving her a chance to say no. But she let him pin it to the bulkhead, feeling
the power in his commanding strength. It melted her even more, making her want
everything he had to give, so why shouldn’t she give everything in return?

“
Yes.”

His head dipped, and she couldn’t hold back the soft
moan as his lips brushed against her neck in a soft kiss. She felt his lips
open, and his teeth scraped against her skin as he tongue flicked out tasting
her. “You taste delicious.” His voice was now low and growly.

Good God, she was going to combust, it was so damn hot
in here. When he had captured her other hand, holding them both against the
bulkhead, she didn’t know, but her fingers clenched in a tight fist as he
continued his assault on her throat, leaving a hot trail of stinging nips and
soothing kisses.

“
You will not deny me, will you, beautiful?”

Her head moved from side to side, and he lifted his
head, showing his wicked smile.

“
Please, touch me.” Her voice was a desperate whisper.

When he touched her skin it was like electricity being
released, and it rippled through her, making her skin pebble. Her erect nipples
on her ample breasts pushed against the fabric of the shirt. He released her
hands to cup her head.

“
I’ll always touch you, our beautiful Celeste.” His
lips met hers, in a deep, drugging kiss. Just like when Raz and Loc had kissed
her, her head spun at the utter decadence of his spicy masculine flavour and
heat. Through the barrier of the black towel she felt his hard erection poking
into her soft belly. She pushed into him pouring all her days of lust and need
into kissing him back. Hands pulled and tugged at her clothing until it
vanished from her body, and he lifted her against the wall, kissing her deeper,
pushing his tongue in to explore her mouth.

He was so close, but still didn’t feel close enough,
so she whimpered, clawing at his hot skin, her body aching, begging for him. He
suddenly pulled from the wall making her squeak in surprise. But he held her
firmly, keeping her drugged and lightheaded from his kisses, and her fingers
ran along the contours of his muscular shoulders. It felt so damn good, nothing
like she’d ever experienced before. Her last lover had been flabby, and her
ex-husband, who was overweight, was nothing compared to Zeb. How she loved his
rippling abs and the strength in his arm as he held her easily, before lowering
her down on to his massive bed. He pushed her flat, his hands skimming up her
legs and over her stomach. His hands seemed to explore and worship her body,
awe and desire swirling in his golden depths.

“
I had no idea you were this soft, so pale … your
majestic peaks.” His hands reached for her breast. She gasped and moaned as he
squeezed. “Your skin is so sensitive.”

Through her lust-drunk haze she realized he had never
been with a human woman before. When he pushed her legs wide to gaze between
her legs, heat scalded her cheeks. She’d never been this exposed or on display
for someone. Fear took sudden hold and she tried to close her legs, but his low
grow made her freeze.

“
Zeb, I—”

“
Do not be afraid. Let me explore your beauty, Celeste.
Your body is now ours, and I want to know everything about you. There is
nothing here that I do not already love. See how much I burn for you.” He
grabbed her hand guiding it down to his long, thick cock. She wrapped her
smaller fingers around his hot, flexing shaft. Soft yet so hard, and all for
her. He groaned when she tightened her fingers.

“
Yes, beauty, see the power you have over us.” He
gently removed her hand. “It’s best if you limit your touch, as I need you too
badly and it may end before it starts.”

Her fear melted, and she couldn’t help the small
giggle.

“
Now keep your hands here.” He gripped her wrists and
placed them above her head. “You will allow my exploration.”