Dragon's Hope (Red Planet Dragons of Tajss Book 4) Read online

  "Ah," I say. "How do I avoid them?"

  "Watch for claw marks on the trees," he says, running his hand over the tree closest to us.

  "Got it, no claw marks."

  "We need a shelter," he says, bending down and picking up a long branch that must have fallen from the tree high above. "Gather ones like this, do not go too far from me."

  Gathering sticks isn't glamorous but I'm not here for glamour. This is my calling and even this simple, mindless task I take seriously. Each one I pick up, I test it against the one he showed me. Astarot grabs my arm by the wrist as I'm reaching for a stick, surprising me.

  "Wha-" he cuts me off with a finger to my lips, staring down at the ground.

  Something slides away from the branch I was about to grab.

  "Careful," he says, letting go of my wrist.

  Damn, I thought I was being careful. Nodding my understanding I kick the branch with my shoe before adding it to the growing pile in my other arm. Piling our sticks together Astarot sets to work. He shows me how to drive the longer sticks into the ground, leaning them towards each other, creating a framework. Then we gather the huge leaves that have fallen from the baoba and weave them through the framework. It doesn't take long before we're standing in front of a small shelter.

  "Wow," I say, impressed.

  "It will keep you out of the elements, but more the leaves will cover over your scent. Sismis and other creatures hunt by smell so it offers protection from that too."

  I'm having a hard time keeping my eyes open I'm so tired. Excitement and adrenaline are the only thing keeping me going. Astarot and I stand close enough we're touching, looking over the shelter we built together. His hip brushes mine and out of nowhere I'm horny. Overwhelming, all consuming, I need to get off and bad. Tiredness forgotten I turn into him, rising on my toes.

  Leaning in as our lips come together my large tits press hard into him. My nipples respond to the pressure almost painfully. His lips press into mine and I drive my tongue into his mouth. I don't want gentle, I want him to take me. His hands run over my ass, softly squeezing, but I want him to dominate me, hold me down and fuck me hard.

  Grabbing his hard cock that is pressing into my stomach, I grip it tight and stroke. He groans into our kiss so I stroke faster. His dick swells, spasming in my hand. I don't ease my pressure, he has another to satisfy my need, I want him to lose control. Breaking the kiss and keeping my grip on his cock I use my other hand to free the fasten of his pants. I let go long enough for the pants to drop and his gorgeous, massive cock springs free.

  I take it in both my hands and stroke, focusing on the soft, unprotected underside. Lowering myself to my knees I tease the head of his dick with my tongue. Unfastening my shirt I work my clothing to free my breasts while pleasuring his cock. His hands twine in my hair, pulling, causing me to groan.

  "Yes!" I encourage him.

  That's what I need. I take more of his cock in my mouth. Lavishing him with my tongue, stroking the shaft, my free hand teases my nipples, moving back and forth. My panties are soaked, my nipples are hard tips I pinch and pull as I slide his cock in and out of my mouth.

  "Lana," he hisses my name, and it drives me wild.

  My hand slides across my stomach and into my pants, feeling my wetness. His cock swells, jumping in my mouth, his grip in my hair tightens and he pulls me forward. The fire burning in my core flames higher. Sliding a finger into my soft folds, penetrating them until I graze my clit. Pleasure explodes through my body, blinding, white burning through my nerves.

  He's pushing me on and off his cock with his tight grip in my hair. It's just on the edge of painful and exactly what I want and need. I take his cock deeper with each forward push until it's bumping the back of my throat. Working my clit with my fingers pleasure builds as I take him deep.

  "Fuck me," I say, pulling back from his cock.

  He doesn't hesitate. Grabbing me up into his arms he holds me up as if I weigh nothing then impales me on his massive, ridged cock. It slides into my wetness easily, much easier than before. I'm ready for it. He fills me completely, pushing my body to its limits then just beyond. I throw my head back, crying out my pleasure as he bottoms out inside me.

  He doesn't stop, it's not enough. Wrapping my arms around his neck to hold myself up, he puts his hands on my ass and then bounces me up and down. I ride his cock. Each thrust drives down until the hard ridge on his pelvis is rubbing against my clit sending new waves of overwhelming pleasure burning through me.

  He pulls me up until just the tip of his dick is inside my wetness. Gravity pulls me back down then I'm up. He raises one hand, lifting me up and down with the other, twining it in my hair. He jerks my head back and licks my neck up to my jaw then down.

  "Yes!" I scream. "Fuck me Astarot."

  I'm going to explode. There is no way to contain this much pleasure. White lightning runs through me, burning new pathways, schooling my body in pleasure.

  "Yes, yes, yes," I pant.

  "Lana!" he cries out, driving deep inside then holding.

  He throws his head back, a wordless hiss that goes on and on. Adding my groan to it I'm taken by my orgasm. It rips out from my core. Shuddering, muscles clench and unclench until, slowly, it passes and I collapse back into him.

  Breathing heavy, neither of us move. I rest my head on his shoulder, trying to catch my breath while I wait for my heartbeat to slow and return to normal. His cock softens inside me, still massive, bigger than any human cock.

  Kissing his neck I work my way up to his ear and nibble. A shudder runs through him and he laughs, moving away. He's sensitive after he comes, I note smiling. I kiss across his jaw finding his lips. Gentle, soft kisses, with my legs wrapped around his waist and our bodies melded together.

  Something nags at my attention. Astarot's grip around my waist tightens and he pulls away from my kiss.

  "What is it?" I ask.

  He shakes his head and makes a shushing noise. A sound. Something off, I can't put my finger on it. It's not the normal quiet of the desert. A machine!

  "What?" I whisper.

  Astarot lifts me off of him and sets me on my feet, pulling his pants up and grabbing his lochaber. He puts a finger to his lips as the sound grows louder. It's some kind of machine and it's coming closer.

  "Pirates," I whisper, my stomach sinking as the icy grip of fear closes around my heart.

  7

  Astarot

  Tightening my grip on my lochaber I nod. It has to be Zzlo. There is no other possibility. The whine of the strange machine grows louder. There is nowhere here to hide and I know the Zzlo work in groups. We can't fight them, they'd outnumber us, even if Lana was a more capable fighter.

  "What do we do?" she whispers.

  My bijass rises; that primal instinct that reduces everything to black and white. Survival is all to the bijass. The urge to protect her, my mate, my treasure is overwhelming. It urges towards destruction. Take any threat head on.

  No. Smart, I have to be smarter than that. I can't take on an entire Zzlo patrol alone. Shidan tried that, and it didn't go in his favor. If they're coming to the oasis, then we need to not be here. Even if they're not, the oasis is a landmark. It draws the eye and they will see us

  "Follow me," I whisper, I know they couldn't hear us but it doesn't matter.

  Taking her hand I hurry along the edge of the oasis looking out to see if I can spot the source of the sound. Opening both my lenses to gather in more of the dim light I see a cloud of dust in the distance. We've got time, good.

  Straight, to the north, is a rocky outcrop. If we have to fight, I will have higher ground but I hope to find a place to hide in there. If I was alone, I could hide in the sand but Lana does not have that ability. I don't know if she could survive hidden underneath the Tajss surface and won't risk it.

  Glancing back, I realize she hasn't taken time to close her shirt. Her beautiful mounds bounce in the soft moonlight and my second cock stirs to life. The silvery
light outlines the dark centers of her breasts, they bounce as we move, distracting and exciting me. She sees me staring, looks down, then grins.

  "Now?" she asks, shaking her head but smiling.

  "You're beautiful," I say, shrugging.

  "Thank you," she says, but her face changes color as she looks away.

  I want to find out what I said wrong but we don't have time. We have to get to safety. As we leave the cover of the oasis I crouch down, a quick glance and I see Lana is following suit. I don't want to create a profile against the emptiness. The sound of the engine grows louder as they close with us much faster than we can move. It's a low whine echoing across the sound that makes my scales itch.

  The first outcroppings of rock rise around us. Slipping between two large ones I pull Lana behind me then stop to look for our possible pursuers. Lana crouches down behind the rock while I look around the side of it. The sound is louder and now it's close enough I can see the machine itself and not just the dust cloud that follows it.

  It is a metallic, gray box that looks like it is floating just over the ground. Dust flies up from underneath and behind. It turns toward us. Gritting my teeth, I loosen my lochaber as I turn and look behind us. The rocks rise, reaching for the sky. The side is smooth, worn by the blowing sand. There are no handholds.

  Well out of Lana's reach is a cliff. There are more outcroppings up there that would offer protection and hide her from sight. I grab her up without a word. She yelps in surprise as I lift her over my head but she's sharp. She grabs the edge and scrambles over. As I thought, once she's up there I can't see her from down here. Her head appears over the edge and she looks at me questioningly. She holds out a hand but I shake my head.

  "Come up here," she whispers.

  "Hide, I'll be fine," I say. "No matter what, hide."

  "No, damn it Astarot."

  Shaking my head, I turn my back on her and crouch down behind the rock, my lochaber at the ready. Leaning over I watch the machine as it draws closer. My heart rate slows as a cold calm comes over me. The bijass comes like an old lover. Complexities drop away as it takes control. There is a beautiful simplicity in kill or be killed. I am a survivor, a hunter, and I will not lose.

  The smooth shaft of my lochaber is cool as I adjust my grip. No matter how fast the box is coming, I see it moving in slow motion. My hearts beat slow, steady, and my breathing falls into time. My mind is clear, ready. Observing and preparing.

  The box machine changes direction. I will it away. This is my territory, it is not welcome here. Leave or I will destroy you. It shifts further then it is moving away. I remain in my crouch waiting until only its dust trail is in sight. Rising I listen, in the distance a hunting Sismis screeches.

  "Astarot," Lana says, her voice drifting down.

  Turning I look up at my treasure. She's mine, it pulses in the core of my being. Mine. Her eyes widen, her mouth tightens into a hard line. Something is wrong. A tickle at the edge of awareness. Something… what is it? The fog of the bijass recedes. Shaking my head to clear it I look at her again.

  "Are you… okay?" she asks.

  I don't answer until the bijass has receded enough I feel in control again.

  "Yes," I say, lifting my arms to bring her down.

  She slides over the edge of the ledge into my arms. Lowering her down, her hands run across my chest. Desire stirs but it's late and we need to sleep. The sismis are hunting and I'd rather not fight more tonight. There is no reason to put her at risk. She stares into my eyes as if trying to find something.

  "You're sure you're okay?" she repeats.

  "Yes," I say, taking her hand and leading the way to our shelter.

  "You looked… different, for a minute."

  Part of me doesn't want to respond to that. I've hidden nothing from her before but this is hard. We walk in silence as I wrestle with what to say. Stepping into the cover of the oasis is a relief. The shelter we built is not far away. Once at it I stop and let her climb in first, then join her. We have to crawl in as it's built low and there's just enough room for two.

  Lying with Lana's body molded to mine, my hand resting on her hip, the light scent of her hair in my nostrils, I confront what happened, giving control to the bijass is regrettable. It didn't take me by surprise or overwhelm me, I reverted to a primal state to protect her. There is no doubt in my mind, I'd do it again.

  I wake when she stirs, alert and ready in an instant. My senses strain for any hint of danger, searching for any threat. She stretches then yawns loudly. Satisfied that we are in no danger, I slide out of the makeshift shelter and stand before stretching my own muscles.

  Lana climbs out and reaches for the sky. The rising suns outline the curves of her body emblazoning her with a halo of fiery light. She rotates at her hips, stretching her back, but it thrusts the soft mounds of her chest forward in a bold way that makes it hard to focus my thoughts on anything else. Her hips circle, coming towards me and away, my cock pulses, hard and ready.

  "Morning," Lana says, covering another yawn with her mouth. "Damn I'm stiff."

  I turn away from her and look out over the oasis. If I spend any longer looking at her we'll get nothing done today. Even so I take a moment to clear my head and focus. We're out here so I can teach her, so what first? Healing salve is a basic, vital tool for survival. I'll teach that first.

  "Are you hungry?" I ask, turning back to her now that my head is clear.

  "Starving," she says.

  She turns and bends over, reaching for her pack just inside the shelter. Her beautiful, curvy ass points at me and all the effort to clear my thoughts flee before an image of her naked before me on all fours. I close my eyes and breathe, listening to my hearts beat. Slow, steady, focus.

  "You okay?" she asks.

  "Yes," I answer, but I don't open my eyes until I'm sure I'm in control.

  We sit beside our shelter and break our fast with pieces of guster meat and water. Once we've sated our hunger, she puts the food away in our packs.

  "So, what's next?" she asks, vibrating with an excitement that is palpable.

  "There is a healing salve, I want to teach you to make it," I say. "It's good for cuts, bruises, and muscle tears."

  "Oh, yeah, Calista has mentioned that before," she replies. "Great! What do we have to do?"

  Climbing to my feet I offer her my hand and help her to her own. "First, we kill a plant."

  "Doesn't sound too hard," she says, frowning. I smile and shake my head. "Or I could be underestimating."

  "It's wise to never underestimate an opponent, one of the first lessons I can teach you."

  "Okay," she says, frowning as she considers.

  "This way," I say, pointing deeper into the oasis.

  "Bring our packs?"

  "No, they should be fine here," I say. "If majmun were near, we would bring them. No other animals will dig through a pack like they will."

  "Wow, okay," she says.

  She takes up her staff and then we walk side by side, making our way between the huge tree trunks. The oasis is an island of sounds. Leaves rustle far overhead in a breeze we don't feel. Brush rustles as small creatures run from our approach. Lana moves with a practiced silence. Pride swells until it feels like I'm glowing with it.

  She's sharp, learning fast, and listens to everything. She's moving as I taught her now, placing toe first then bringing her weight down after testing each step. When I first showed her this, she moved slow and awkward, but now she moves along quick and natural as if she's always walked this way.

  Something makes my scales tingle so I hold up a fist. She stops at my signal, bringing her staff to a ready position. I don't know what I'm looking for but I know there's something. Long years of surviving have honed my instincts. I trust them and that has kept me alive.

  Another sound, subtle, a slithering of something sliding along the yellow grass and underbrush of fallen leaves and debris. Crouching down I turn a slow circle until I spot the subtle shift of a
large, fallen leaf. Holding up a finger I circle it in the air making sure I have Lana's attention then point. She crouches and her eyes search where I'm pointing. Her eyes widen, mouth opens to an O, and she glances over at me questioning without words. I nod saying nothing until the movement stops. Rising I smile.

  "That was a zmeya, a deadly poisonous snake."

  "Oh, how did you know it was there?" she asks.

  "The slithering sound," I reply. "Trust your ears and your instincts."

  "Got it," she says.

  Moving on, it isn't long before we are close to the heart of the oasis and I see my goal. A cvet, it's close to the base of a baoba tree where they grow so they can attract and capture small game. The cvet is big, with a bright orange-yellow middle with hints of red and its dark center is almost like a huge eye. They're hard to see from our position but pure white, almost clear, fronds grow across the colorful center. Those fronds contain a paralytic that will stop you cold. Green and brown leaves stretch out, wide and thick with vines between them that grow from the center. When I take a step closer the leaves tremble, it's aware of us.

  "That is a cvet," I say, pointing.

  "It's beautiful," she says.

  "Yes and deadly," I agree, then explain the plan. "Follow my signals, we need its leaves."

  I motion for her to move to the far side. When she nods her understanding we separate and move so we're opposite each other. I whirl my lochaber, positioning the blade over my head, ready to swipe down. I motion her forward and she advances with her staff at the ready.

  The vines shift as she approaches, but she's prepared. Swinging her staff around, she blocks the vines that move for her legs. They wrap around the staff. The cvet is not intelligent and will mistake the staff for the prey it seeks. I make my way closer while its attention is on her staff. I have to reach the center to kill it without being entangled in its vines or getting touched by the poisonous feelers.

  "Ah!" Lana cries out.

  The cvet jerks her forward. She didn't let go of the staff in time. In slow motion I see her stumbling forward, being dragged along behind the staff, struggling to stay on her feet.