Devoured: A Dark Sci-Fi Romance Read online

  I was also aware there had been multiple contacts with different alien species going as far back as almost one hundred years, only a few noted on Earth. The majority of contact had been through involvement on the outposts. I’d never had the opportunity to work and study on any of Habitable Units before. Obtaining a position was something to be revered. I’d considered myself lucky to be here.

  Why hadn’t the handlers preparing our group for the trip warned us about the fact we’d face an alien species? More important, who was this mysterious human and why was he using an alien as a lab rat?

  I tried to remember every detail I’d learned about Bellenia before signing my name on the contract. There were various experiments going on, much like every outpost, yet Bellenia was best known for its valuable minerals, rocks that helped created much needed fuel on Earth. But nothing in the documentation had mentioned projects involving aliens.

  “I’m not doing anything, Ms. Caruso. Draziak is your rightful mate and he is going to take what belongs to him. Allow them to have some time alone together, Parker.”

  “What? What the fuck are you doing?” I screeched, horrified at the words. This couldn’t be happening.

  Parker, the glorified lackey, shot a look at the captor, shaking his head before easing some sort of device across Draziak’s wrists and ankles, immediately freeing him.

  “What about the girl?” Parker asked, snorting as he glared at me.

  “I think Draziak can take care of that.”

  “Wait a freaking minute!” Parker snapped. “Didn’t you disable his powers? That was the only reason I agreed to this.”

  The captor issued a growl of his own. “Get the fuck out, Parker, if you can’t handle your task. I’ll deal with you later.”

  I not only sensed a hesitation in the soldier but could see a glint of fear in his eyes. Whoever this captor was initiated fear as a method of control.

  “I’m not going anywhere,” Parker hissed between clenched teeth.

  “Then you will obey,” the captor shouted. “Besides, Draziak doesn’t need anything but his brawn. Now, do you?”

  I couldn’t help but notice Parker took several strides away from the alien, darting a single glance in my direction.

  And I could swear he held an expression of fear.

  For my safety.

  Draziak rubbed his wrists, his penetrating eyes locked on the observation booth. “You will pay for this, Scorpion. There will be no place on this godforsaken planet where you can hide.”

  Scorpion. I swallowed hard, realizing the asshole in the observation booth must be some kind of mercenary. I couldn’t fathom what the hell was going on.

  For some reason I was surprised the alien’s voice was deep, velvety in a way that I hadn’t expected. I was startled to think the creature knew our language. This had to be just another nightmare. I would wake up. Do it, Annabella. Do it. Wake up.

  “I look forward to the challenge,” the captor stated, his tone more dominant than before. “You have one hour with her. No more.”

  Parker quickly moved into the darkness, obviously eager to get the hell away. I clawed at my throat, still trying to make sense of what the fuck was going on.

  Draziak roared once again, the sound one I would never forget. An injured animal. Yet this beast was hell bent on revenge.

  I’d never succumbed to any man. I’d always been the aggressor; that is, for the two men I’d dated in my life. Right now, I had no idea how to act, willing my mind to shut down. Whatever the alien was going to do to me I knew the chance was I wouldn’t survive.

  The alien gave a long exhale, still staring up at the observation booth, his hands clenched in fists and his chest rising and falling rapidly. There was no escaping the fact he was fully aroused, his thick shaft throbbing. Even as sick as I felt, there was an odd stirring coming from deep within.

  There was no way I was excited about this. None. I closed my eyes, wiping beads of sweat from my brow, the heat fooling with my mind and my rationality. Breathe. Just breathe.

  I heard nothing for a full minute, daring to open my eyes. The sight of the alien crouching only a few inches in front of the cage door was enough to force a whimper from my mouth.

  He was staring at me, remaining unblinking as his eyes roamed my body. His nostrils were still flared and every few seconds he took a deep breath. The moment he dragged what appeared to be a forked tongue across his lips, I had to fight the tears threatening to give away every ounce of fear.

  And I was terrified.

  I shuddered, huddled as far away as it was remotely possible, even though his long arm could easily reach the back of the cage. He kept his shimmering eyes locked onto me, studying me in a way that gave me an indication of his high intelligence. I could swear he was reading my mind.

  “What. Is. Your. Name?” he asked in a throaty voice, accentuating every word.

  I shook my head slightly, curling my body as tightly together as possible. From this vantage point, the ugly lighting allowed me to see more of his handsome features. He was aristocratic with a high forehead and a sculpted nose, his cheekbones the only aspect that was remarkably different from humans. I found myself drawn to him: his rugged muscles and strong jaw, broad shoulders and carved muscles. Jesus. I had to be out of my freaking mind. I was forced to take in deep breaths, trying to fill my lungs.

  The scent of him wasn’t what I’d expected: woodsy and exotic, the musky fragrance not only pleasant but exciting. My nipples were hard, aching in a manner they hadn’t before. The wetness between my legs was embarrassing, juice trickling to the insides of my thighs. A wash of guilt and anger flashed through me, even as a jolt of electricity sizzled every nerve ending.

  I couldn’t be attracted to him. I just... I refused to be. This was sick and disgusting and terrifying and... My mind remained foggy, my vision clouded as I couldn’t keep the tears from slipping past my lashes.

  “I will ask again. What. Is. Your. Name?” He wasn’t angry, just mystified in the same manner that I was.

  “Annabella.”

  “Anna-bel-la.” The way he said my name was like sweet music, rolling off his tongue. He dipped his head, studying me even more intently. I could swear that I was also able read his mind. He was going to devour me, his hunger knowing no bounds, but he was absolutely confused as to the reason for his attraction. “You are... beautiful.”

  I swallowed hard, nodding once. “Please. I’m not your enemy. We are a peaceful people.”

  He smiled, laughing softly. “Every human is an enemy.” He lowered his gaze to the padlock, wrapping his large hand around it. I heard a cracking sound before he pulled his fingers away, the lock crushed into shards of metal. Using just a single finger, he opened the door, the creaking sound of the hinges terrifying.

  A wash of sensations crawled over me, igniting the embers buried deep within my body. Hunger. I actually felt desire for him, an intense longing. I was mortified, darting glances at the observation booth, knowing the men were watching. Bastards. They were laughing. Maybe they were even taking bets on what would happen.

  Please don’t hurt me. Please.

  I couldn’t bear to say the words.

  “I will not hurt you, Anna-bel-la.”

  I’d been right. He was reading my mind. How the hell was that possible? I allowed myself to gaze into his eyes once again, the connection we shared uncanny. I could swear I was seeing into his soul; the heartache and brutality he’d gone through, the challenge he’d been forced to face since arriving on Bellenia. I wasn’t sorry for him, but I also was no longer afraid.

  I also realized whatever I’d signed onto had been a lie.

  The gesture was simple, his hand reaching into the cage, his look one of a carnal and very dominating nature. He wasn’t going to take no for an answer. I was his prize, his treat.

  And he was going to take me in any and every manner he desired.

  I was mesmerized the moment our fingers touched, the live wire of electricity soari
ng through every extremity. I was so turned on I could barely breathe, my heart racing and pinpricks dancing on every inch of skin.

  After guiding me out of the cage, he took a step back, tilting his head. My need to fight or flee kicked in and even though I had no freaking plan, I bolted, heading for where I believed the door had to be. I glanced back only once, unable to see anything.

  Then a blur.

  Long fingers wrapped around my wrist followed by a rough tug. The sound was different from before, even more infuriated. I was tugged then dragged behind the alien for several feet until he reached the cage.

  “No! I will not go back inside.” I kicked out, able to catch the beast in the leg, but there was no movement, only a face peering down at me.

  Seconds before I was tossed over the cage, my stomach hitting the steel bars.

  “You will obey,” Draziak snarled.

  “You’re crazy! What are you going to do?”

  “Punish. You.” His words were clipped, the tone deep.

  I struggled to push up, my fingers wrapped around the thick wire but the second he entangled his fingers in my hair, I was completely immobilized. I screamed, able to catch a small glimpse of the observation booth. The fucking captor was standing as close to the glass as possible and if I didn’t know better, I could say he was giving an approving smile.

  “Let me go!”

  I could feel his hot breath skipping across the back of my neck. “Not until you. Are. Punished.”

  I wasn’t prepared for the hard smack of his hand across my backside. Pain washed through me until a moan slipped past my lips. I was mortified, shaken to the very core as he repeated the move not once but several times. No. No! My stomach lurched, my heart racing and I was absolutely shocked that I was hot and wet all over. There was no way. I was sick, one demented girl.

  “You belong to me,” Draziak huffed, his hand coming down over and over again.

  The heat was already building on my bottom, more intense than I could have imagined. I kicked out my legs, struggling in his hold, conscious of the peering eyes.

  I was thoroughly humiliated, my world completely shaken.

  “No. No! I don’t belong to anyone. I can’t. I already...” As if there was anyone who cared about me. I had no one. Not a single soul who gave a damn about me. I only had my work. My beloved work.

  “You will learn,” he said, as if we would have years together. The spanking was severe, taking my breath away.

  As well as slickening my inner thighs from the horrible desire.

  I finally closed my eyes, no longer fighting. I was just too embarrassed to care about the anguish.

  When he caressed my bottom, his fingers much gentler than I would have imagined, I concentrated on my breathing.

  “Soon, I will fuck you in the ass.”

  The promise had been made and I knew that one day, he would make good on it.

  Easing me to my feet, he yanked me against his chest, the force knocking the wind out of me. My breathing was scattered, my lower lip quivering as he lifted his arm, using just the tips of his fingers to brush down the back of my head, tangling his fingers in my long hair.

  “Mmm...” He tilted his head back and forth, as if drinking in my essence.

  The feel of his throbbing cock pressing into my stomach filled me with both excitement and anxiety. I couldn’t seem to catch my breath, everything around us still foggy.

  Another guttural sound pushed past his lips as he ground his hips back and forth, pressing his hand down the length of my spine. As his head lowered, the shimmer I’d seen before in his eyes changed, becoming enigmatic, the draw powerful. I was locked into the moment, my body seemingly paralyzed as he allowed our lips to touch.

  I wasn’t prepared for the sweet taste of him or the gentle manner in which he kissed me. His tongue parted my lips, darting just inside. I was more aroused than before, the longing becoming too intense, the need turning my hunger into something inhuman.

  I wrapped my arms around him, clawing at his back as the sweet moment began to turn into something else entirely. He became more brutal in his actions, dominating my tongue as he explored the dark recesses of my mouth.

  He yanked me onto my toes, sliding his hand to my bottom, cupping and squeezing. As he kicked my legs apart, I moaned into the kiss, some sense of rationality trying to creep back in. I pressed my hands against his chest, pushing with all my might, finally slapping at him.

  He broke the kiss, growling as his eyes darted back and forth. I couldn’t look away, completely locked into the moment. Whatever hold he had on me was far too powerful.

  “You. Are. Mine,” he whispered hoarsely, dragging his rough tongue down the side of my face.

  “No. I... I don’t belong to anyone.”

  “Mine,” he repeated, his fingers digging into my skin.

  I wiggled against him, trying to get away, the dichotomy of the raging desire rushing through me and the need for self-preservation something I had difficulty understanding. Why did I want him? What drug had been given to me?

  Every nerve ending was seared as he bent me in a deep arc, dragging his teeth down the side of my neck.

  “And. I. Will. Fuck. You.”

  I whimpered as he fisted my hair, biting down, his tongue swirling around my skin. “Oh. Oh...”

  I clung to him, taking shallow breaths as he rubbed his mouth down to my chest, sucking and nipping until he reached my nipple. Every sound he made was animalistic.

  Possessive.

  As if he couldn’t get enough.

  The way his tongue swirled around my hardened bud created a rush of adrenaline, the warmth of his body almost comforting even as his actions became more forceful. I was so stimulated that I was lost in the moment, my mind still wanting to fight him off, but my body betraying me. Desire raged within and even the guilt of my longing as well as the humiliation of being watched couldn’t abate the delicious, filthy sensations.

  He pinched my other nipple, twisting and pulling in a crazed manner. The pain mixing with the pleasure was explosive, leaving me exhausted yet stimulated. The combination was almost too much to take.

  I couldn’t understand what was happening between us, but I wasn’t able to control myself, the longing far too intense. I wanted to scream out, to beg for this to stop, even as the little voice inside my head pushed me on.

  Except the voice wasn’t female.

  Who was inside my head? What had been done to me?

  Another deep growl grabbed my attention as well as increasing the desire. I was wild with need, desperate for more.

  I reached for him, sliding my hand between us until I was able to wrap it around his shaft. The throbbing vibrations were incredible and the moment I pumped up and down, he threw his head back and let off a primal howl, the sound echoing in the chamber.

  When he lowered his head, his face was contorted, his need surpassing mine. He was nothing more than a beast in heat and I was his mate, the coupling somehow required in his mind. He’d been driven to this, unleashed in a way I could barely understand, his ferocity and hunger increasing with every passing second.

  He lifted me into the air, holding me aloft as if I weighed nothing, allowing me full access to his beautiful cock. Groaning, he opened his mouth wide, allowing me to catch a glimpse of his forked tongue seconds before he ravaged my other nipple, sucking and licking fervently.

  My God, the bliss was sensational, leaving me in awe, unable to think about anything but the raging desire shared between us.

  I stroked his cock, moving up and down as I twisted my hand, creating a wave of friction. I wanted nothing more than to have his shaft in my mouth, sucking until he came. I imagined the stream of cum sliding down my throat, could almost taste him. Every sense in my body was jazzed, boosted in an inhuman manner, the excitement surging even more.

  After a few seconds, he forced my legs around his waist, holding me as he stormed toward the cage. I had no idea what to expect until he draped me ac
ross the top rungs, dropping to his knees and spreading my legs wide open.

  “Oh, God. Oh...” I was lightheaded, struggling to reach him but he was too forceful, the savage taking everything he wanted.

  And he wanted me.

  The moment his tongue flicked back and forth across my clit, I almost lost it, my toes curling from the deliciousness of the moment. He pressed my legs as wide open as possible, sucking on my tender tissue for a full minute, his actions brutal and unforgiving.

  I stared up into the light, my mind forming a shield, even as my body gave in, surrendering to this beast.

  This creature.

  This... alien.

  I knew I was losing my mind, but the pleasure was too tantalizing, pulling me into a vacuum. When he licked up and down the length of my pussy, I thought I would lose all control. Draziak brought me close to an orgasm, thrusting his tongue so deep inside that my muscles wrapped around the invasion, wanting even more.

  Wanting all of him.

  I tossed my head back and forth, easing my arm over my eyes in an effort to pretend this was just an amazing experience. Not something from a nightmare. I couldn’t help the whimpers that escaped my mouth, moans indicating just how wet my pussy had become, how much my nipples ached.

  He pressed one then a second finger inside, working with his tongue to drive me absolutely insane. When he added two more, I jerked up, my strangled moan floating toward the ceiling.

  His growls were even more barbaric, the sounds mixed with a dark and dangerous chuckle as if he’d broken through my barriers, ripping down my walls of steel.

  As if he owned me.

  His prize.

  His mate.

  I could no longer feel my legs, could only hear the hammering of my heart. Everything was a wonderful blur, white-hot heat rocketing through. I was on fire, the malevolent nature of our coupling no longer mattering. I wanted to come. I craved the pleasure, pure ecstasy.