Naima: A SciFi Alien Mail Order Bride Romance (TerraMates Book 7) (25 page)

"Old love affair, I take it?"

"Yeah. Back in my younger days. She's had my heart ever since." Alec felt the world fading as someone shook him roughly.

"Well, she's going to have to answer for what she did. You can bring retribution on her or the council will, Alec. That's a fight waiting to happen between her people and ours."

"I'll fix it. She's desperate for help and that's something she's not ready to accept yet. Varetec will be ours by the end of the week and she will be mine before this is over."

He groaned as the truck came to a stop.

"No way. She's not the kind of woman you want beside you. I know you're looking for someone wild, but she's too much. She tried to kill you for God's sake!" Jared moved and Alec lifted his head to watch the doors near his feet open as sunlight poured in.

"It's not the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last." Alec smiled, resting his eyes and letting himself slip into the darkness.

Sonya was exactly the type of woman he needed next to him. Now to figure out how to get her to stop hating him so much.

The sound of beeping made his eyes open. The room was empty, for which he was grateful. He took a slow, shallow breath and looked around, realizing quickly that he was in a hospital bed. The various wires coming from his chest and arms were disturbing. He glanced at the clock on the wall. Just after lunch, but what day was it?

He felt drained and itchy. Reaching up, he ran his fingers over his face before sliding them through his dark hair. Had she really tried to kill him? He growled softly at the thought. He wanted to pay her back, but the only images flashing through his mind were thoughts of him fucking her into submission, making her pay with her body for all she had put him through, both now and in the past.

His body responded to the desire that pumped through him and he bit his lip, closing his eyes and letting the thought go farther. Sex was first for sure, but then mating and a family.

A long dark chuckle left him. How sick was he to want her as his bride? The mother of his cubs? How many times would she have to kick him in the balls before he woke up and moved on?

At least one more.

"Are you awake, Sir?" The feminine voice pulled him from his fantasies.

"Yes. What day is it?" Alec opened his eyes and barked out his response.

"It's Saturday, Sir."

"I've been in here for three days?"

"You have. It's good to see you're gaining awareness now. That's the first sign of recovery. I'll have Dr. Phillips stop by and see you in a few minutes."

"Can I get up and walk? I need to go to the restroom and my ass hurts from sitting here so long." He tugged at the wires as the pretty blond nurse moved toward him.

"Of course. Let me just put the machine on pause and I'll get you a mobile drip. Hold on one second and you can use the restroom here in the room and then walk down the hall if your legs will hold you up."

"Fine. Hurry." He closed his eyes, slipping his hand under the covers to press his erection down. He didn't mind anyone knowing that he had one, but it hurt so damn bad he considered letting his trip to the bathroom be one for multiple releases.

"One moment, please." She worked quickly by the sound of things. Her voice was soft and caring as she pulled the sidebar to the bed down. "You're ready to move. Let me help you."

"No. Move back. I don't need help." Alec sat up and swung his legs around, standing up as if nothing had occurred. He was Alpha for a reason, his strength being the biggest proponent to his position.

"My apologies." She moved back and he walked to the bathroom, dragging the damn pole with various bags of fluids hanging from it. Sonya was going to find her punishment more to do with causing him to miss a few days of life than her deceit. He abhorred hospitals and wasting his time sitting on his ass, feeling like it was lit on fire.

He walked out of the bathroom a few minutes later to stop in front of an older male bear. Brown Bear, from what he could tell.

"I'm Dr. Mark Phillips. Glad we got you when we did. Take a seat and I'll explain what was in your system. I am curious as to how it got there."

"I'm going to stand and it's none of your business how it got there. Tell me what it was and then release me. I'm going home today. I have too much to do to lay around here another minute."

"Stand if you like, but you're not leaving until tomorrow. The drugs in your system have to be flushed out. It was enough high-class tranquilizer to put down a herd of elephants. Whoever did this to you meant to inflict serious pain."

"Did she mean to kill me with it? Is it something used to kill with?"

"I don't know who she is or that might make this easier to answer."

"Answer my question. Did the person who used this on me mean to hurt or kill me?"

"Hurt. It wouldn't kill you unless it was untreated for days and more was administered. She meant to hurt you – badly."

"Good answer. I'll stay until this evening, but I'm leaving at ten. I have a meeting tomorrow morning that I can't miss. Lock my records. No one but you, me, the nurse and Jared will know of this visit. Understood?"

"As you wish. I'll check on you in a bit. Try and relax if possible. If you change your mind about sharing who did this to you, I have people that can help bring her in."

"I'm going for a walk. I need to move around."

"Fine." Mark nodded and walked from the room as Alec watched him. No one was bringing Sonya in but him. She would come back to him. He would force the matter by applying the appropriate amount of pressure to her precious company structure. It wouldn't take much and she would be willing to beg. Oh, what a joy that would be.

He smiled and walked out of the room, taking a right and moving down toward the small drink machine he could see at the end of the hallway. His ass was showing at the back of the gown, but he didn't care.

Modesty had never been a trait of his.

He passed by a few doors before something caught his eye. A nameplate on the door beside the vending machine.

Victor Valsek.

No way was his luck this good. He walked faster, his legs protesting as he pushed himself through the sluggishness of the drugs in his system.

Pausing at the door, he knocked softly until he heard a weak voice whisper, "Come in."

Alec opened the door and walked in before closing it behind him and moving toward the couch. "I hope I'm not bothering you. I realized whose name was on the door and knew I had to stop by."

"Not at all, son. My days are short and any company is good company." The old man smiled and Alec could see where Sonya got her strong features from. "Why is a young man like yourself in the hospital?"

"Funny that you should ask." Alec laughed and took a seat on the couch before leaning back and studying the advertising tycoon. Something about Victor was so familiar, but it had to be simply because of his resemblance to Sonya. "Someone poisoned me yesterday."

"Oh. Piss off an old lover?" The man's eyebrow lifted for a moment. He was near death. Alec could almost see a shadow of the afterlife sitting on him. Sadness washed over him as he imagined Sonya's pain seeing her father in this state. When they had been together in their younger years she spoke so highly of him as if she almost worshiped him.

"Actually, yes. I was seeking to get her back, but she's not as compliant as I had hoped." He laughed, relaxing enough to enjoy the simple conversation. "She's in trouble and I want to help her."

"Because you desire to be the good in her world or because you want to own her?"

"Both, I think. She hates me though, for good reason, but I need her in my life. I'm not willing to give up on her just yet."

"Does she know this?"

"I didn't get more than a word out yesterday before she attacked me. I'm quite proud of her for doing it though it's ironic." He shook his head. Why was he spilling all of this to her father? This would not turn out well.

"That's because you love her." The old man chuckled, but it turned into a cough. Blood dripped from his mouth and Alec rose to his feet, quick to pull the blanket from the bed and wipe it up for him.

"I'm sorry. I'll leave you in peace. I shouldn't have..."

Victor grabbed his arm and smiled as the light in his eyes faded. "She's a strong-willed girl, Alec. I'm proud of her for standing up for what she believes as well, but you will have to play a different game if you want her beside you. My people need your help. Do not disappoint me, boy. I've invested too much in you."

Alec stood in shock, the old man obviously knowing exactly who he was. "What?"

"Did you get to kiss her before she attacked you?" He closed his eyes and let out a sound that was similar to a chuckle.

Alec answered as the door opened at the far end of the room. "No. She sunk her nails into my chest and I remember nothing else."

Sonya stepped in, her eyes wide with disbelief. Alec's heart almost stopped.

"What are you doing here? Get out. Don't touch him." She barreled across the room as her father held up his hand. Alec caught her by the wrist and trapped her against his body as he growled in her face.

"I invited him, baby. Take this outside and do not harm him again." Her father's voice was filled with the commanding strength that only belonged to an Alpha. She relaxed in Alec's hold and his heart broke at the look on her face.

Despair.

Alec released her and moved to the bed, placing a hand on Victor's limp fingers and squeezing softly. "I don't understand, but I'll do what I can. I promise."

He walked out of the room, his mind spinning at the possibilities. He stopped just outside the open door and turned as she walked out, her eyes narrowed, her vision filled with hate.

"How dare you," Sonya growled. She moved to stand toe-to-toe with Alec. He was unbelievably gorgeous, the depth of his gaze causing her pulse to race.

"How dare I? You tried to kill me a few days ago and I'm the bad guy here?" He laughed as his eyes rolled over her face.

She wanted him to desire her, to need her more than anything he ever had before. The pain of not having her was what she would use to cripple him.

"If I wanted you dead, you would be," she growled at him softly.

"I don't doubt that at all. I've had a hard-on over it for the last four days." He didn't smile, but the humor in his voice softened her attack.

Damn him.

"I don't care what you have. Stay away from me and my father." She turned to go, but he caught her arm and moved her to the wall with little effort. She had forgotten how strong he was. He pressed her to the wall, his body thick and hard from years of working out and running.

He growled deep in his chest and the bear inside of her wanted to bend over and grant him access to every part of her. He was an Alpha and the animal inside of her wanted him to be hers. It was the dominant woman that ruled her thoughts for now and fought like hell against him.

"I'm not going anywhere. No one is taking over Varetec but me, Sonya. The day is coming and I will not see you and your company fall to anyone's greed and desires but my own. Fight all you want, but I will have both of you." He breathed in deeply, his nose skimming by her throat. "I smell your desire, woman. You have no idea what I can do for you."

She tried to catch her breath, but the battle that raged internally was almost overwhelming. He smelled of sex and the woods. She licked her lips and drew in a tight breath between her soft pants. "Get off of me. I will kill you the next time you come close to me."

Her fingers tightened on his sides, the gown having opened and giving her access to his skin. It was warm and soft as she pressed her fingers into it. She expected him to tense up at the threat that she would stab him again, but he didn't. It was almost as if he knew he had her bear where he needed her.

Desperate for him.

"Tell me you don't want a night in my arms again, Sonya. Remember all the times I took you just the way you needed me to?" He licked her, his tongue warm and wet as it dragged up her throat to her ear. Alec shifted his hips, grinding his erection against her belly and she cried out. She needed him desperately, but there was no way she was giving in.

"Move, Alec. I don't want to hurt you again, but I will in order to protect myself." She pushed at him weakly, her strength lost to desire.

"I'm going to move, but only this once. I can't tell you how much seeing you leaves me even more determined."

"I just tried to kill you. You're sick." She pushed at his chest as he moved back a little, his gaze burning her.

"You tried to warn me, but I've never been one to take the easy road. I need a strong woman beside me to run Varetec. That's you. Let it be you, Sonya." He reached out and touched the side of her face, leaning down fast and pressing his lips to hers.

She pulled back, but his grip was tight and his mouth warm and wet. She fought him for a moment, but when his tongue pressed deep into her mouth, the low groan that left her was all the evidence he needed. She sucked on his offering hard, stroking it with her own tongue as his arms wrapped around her. His hands slid down to her ass and he tucked her against him, rolling his body against her.

She broke the kiss, panting as fear and anger surged inside of her. She didn't need this...ever again.

She slapped him hard and turned, walking down the hall. "Don't do that again or I'll fucking bite your tongue off."

"I almost thought you liked it. Sexy bitch."

I did.

She walked out of the hospital as her body screamed in protest. There was nothing in the whole world she wanted more than to spend the afternoon filling herself on the huge black bear that had ruined her for all other men.

Never again.

Sonya sat at a small coffee shop just down the street from the hospital, her blood still warm from feeling Alec's hands on her. She'd taken other bears to her bed over the last ten years, but none of them even came close to what he was capable of doing to her. She growled at herself.

"Fucking let it go. It's not happening."