Alien Conquest Read online

Degorsk's smile made her pulse quicken again. "Always."

  Cassidy stood to confront Lidon. His fangs had descended in his lust, and the feral look in his eyes fed her appetite as if she hadn't already been well satisfied twice before. She approached him as a cautious huntress might approach dangerous prey.

  "My beautiful warrior-philosopher," she breathed. "What delights do you offer me?"

  His smile only enhanced the menace in his expression. "I'm afraid after watching you give yourself so ardently to our clanmates, my control is wanting."

  "I have no wish for your control, Nobek. Restraint is the last thing I desire."

  Suddenly she was pinned against the wall, Lidon growling as he crushed against her, his sexes battering rams as they breached her nether regions. She screamed in response but, far from fear, her cry was one of triumphant conquest.

  They went at each other like two animals intent not just on rutting but devouring as well. Lidon's jaws snapped in the air only inches from her cheek, and Cassidy slowly realized both Tranis and Degorsk were holding him back with fistfuls of hair. The Nobek's hands gripped her buttocks with force. She knew she'd be badly bruised, both inside and out as he took her with incredible strength.

  For her part, she sank her teeth in his shoulders and neck, her fingernails scoring every inch she came in contact with. She tore at him, ravaging the brute hammering against her without mercy, tasting his blood and wanting more. She was as wild as a drunken maenad, and she reveled in the brutish need to conquer the unconquerable.

  Climax burst over her in delicious agony, and she shrieked her victory to the very heavens. Lidon managed two more vicious stabbing thrusts before his roar joined the bedlam. Moments later, he collapsed beneath her, the attending Tranis and Degorsk barely able to catch them before they hit the floor.

  "You'd better grab your kit," Tranis informed the medic as they carefully separated the gasping pair. "There's no way he didn't do damage."

  "She dealt out a fair share as well," Degorsk laughed, but he lost no time in snagging the portable medical case he kept nearby.

  Tranis placed Cassidy on the bed then stood back as Degorsk rubbed cool cream into her aching parts. The growing agony abated almost immediately, and she sighed. "All better," she said.

  "Not quite," he snorted. "That just dulled the pain. Hold still while I do the repair work."

  He inserted a cylindrical tube into her sex. Warmth suffused her passage, and she closed her eyes at the soothing sensation. She rested quietly, all the strength sapped from her body. Had that really been her rutting wild with desire; innocent, chaste Cassidy? What had come over her?

  Why am I so surprised? After years of terror and subjugation to men, why wouldn't I seize the opportunity to take some measure of control, even if it was only pretend?

  Degorsk's instrument slid out of her sheath, only to be re-inserted in her anal channel. Fingers brushed her cheek, and she opened her eyes to see Tranis smiling down on her.

  "It felt good to claim your right to pleasure, didn't it? And unload some of that pent-up aggression?"

  He understood. Tears overflowed her eyes. "Thank you."

  Tranis kissed her. She gently traced the shallow scratches she'd left on his shoulders.

  Degorsk pulled the tube free and patted her thigh. "Now you're all better. Try not to lose control with Lidon without me nearby, okay? Even with his level of restraint, a Nobek has limited command over his instincts when violently aroused."

  Cassidy looked at Lidon where he sat on the floor, propped up against the wall. She gasped to see the bloody ovals her teeth had left, the jagged cuts from her nails. "Oh no," she said.

  He grinned at her. "Take out your aggression on me anytime, my pet. That was the best sex I've ever had." Lidon growled at Degorsk when he approached. "Not one mark of honor gets healed. These are mine."

  Degorsk rolled his eyes. "Nobeks." He put his kit away with a smile.

  "Like you don't carry enough scars." Cassidy was amused at the pride in Lidon's face as he examined the damage she'd done.

  "These won't scar, unfortunately. You'll have to give me fresh wounds from time to time." He leered.

  "Are we all right, Cassidy?" Tranis asked. Now that the hormones had been quelled, he looked worried again.

  She studied him, knowing what he asked had nothing to do with her health. "Everything is in motion now. Nothing I can do will stop it. I'm trying to come to terms with that. You'll have to understand if I don't always feel accepting of the situation."

  "Of course. Know we'll do our best to make it right for you." Sorrow returned to his expression, the torment in his eyes somehow adding to his beauty.

  Cassidy smoothed her palm over his face, wishing she could erase their combined pain. Her chuckle was rueful. "With you, I have life. On Earth, there is only death for me. The hardest thing to reconcile is that I trust my supposed enemy more than my own people."

  ?

  Chapter Seventeen

  Admiral Piras, leader of the Kalquorian invasion force, had a rough, grinding voice from decades of yelling at underlings. At the present he sounded pleased. "Codes received, Captain Tranis. Excellent work from you and your crew."

  "Thank you sir." Tranis allowed a small side comment. "I hope this works."

  "It has to. One way or the other, this war is finished after we reach Earth. The enemy has recalled all its fleet now that it knows we've breached the outer cordon."

  Tranis frowned. "How close is our second wave, Admiral?"

  "They'll join us in two days. If the defenses on the other side of the portal are too much, we'll regroup with them and fight the long way to Earth. For now, the medical corps has just arrived, so we'll begin the first attack soon." He paused before cautiously asking, "Is Commander Lidon there with you, Captain?"

  Tranis looked at his Nobek to see Lidon quirk a smile. He'd been a squadron leader on Piras' ship back when the admiral had been a captain. More importantly, he'd come close to joining Piras' clan. Tranis wondered if the admiral still smarted from being rejected for a much younger, less experienced Dramok.

  Lidon caught Tranis watching him. His grin widened, and he rumbled in a low voice, "I'm here, sir."

  "I wish you were flying for us like the old days, my friend. Your experience would be welcome on such an important campaign."

  "It will be a glorious battle, Admiral. My heart will be in the thick of it with you."

  Very funny, Tranis mouthed at his Nobek, showing his fangs. Lidon shook with suppressed laughter.

  The warmth bled out of Piras' voice when he addressed Tranis again, becoming all business. There would never be friendship between the two Dramoks, but they at least respected one another. "Get those Mataras home to Kalquor safely, Captain Tranis. Save a pretty one for me."

  "That won't be difficult, sir. You'll find all Earther women are lovely. Good fortune and great victory, Admiral." He signed off.

  The bridge was silent for a time, the crew's rapt attention on the vid showing the invasion fleet gathering at the security grid's boundary. Tranis had already determined they'd stay long enough to see if the attack on Earth succeeded. As soon as they knew the outcome, they'd speed to Kalquor.

  He'd been offered the promotion to admiral for the second time in his career. To accept would make him the youngest officer to advance to that rank in Kalquor's history. He thought maybe this time he'd take it, along with a planet-bound post. Cassidy deserved a nice home, somewhere to put down roots rather than knock about space and

  its attendant dangers. And truth be told, Tranis was tired of nearly getting killed. This last brush with the Tragooms had reminded him why he'd traded the violent glory of commanding a warship for the less glamorous work as a spy. And Cassidy's pain over him being part of the effort against Earth confirmed he'd had enough of being on the front lines. It was time to step down, if Degorsk and Lidon were in agreement.

  Simdow broke the silence of the bridge. "Will this work, Captain?"

  T
ranis considered before answering. "If our forces can hold the portal until Earth surrenders, it will."

  "I hate having to stand back and watch. I'd give anything to be part of the invasion."

  That's because you've never seen hundreds of bloody, screaming men after a real battle. You've never given a heartbroken Matara the news that some or all of her clan has just been decimated. What of your new Matara, Simdow? Are you ready to make her cry with your death? Are you ready to send men to their deaths?

  Tranis kept these thoughts to himself. Yes, a planet-bound home in which to keep Cassidy comfortable had an appeal he'd never before experienced.

  * * * *

  "How about this one?" Degorsk mused, looking over Cassidy's shoulder at her reader. She giggled in response.

  His bite had relaxed her, succeeding in distracting his young love from the upcoming battle for her home world. Euphoric and aroused, she'd suggested they look through her copy of The Kama Sutra for inspiration. Degorsk had been only too happy to peruse the graphic depictions with her, and the results were as good as any foreplay. He was hard and she was wet. At least they'd had sense to get in bed first.

  "It looks physically demanding for both participants," she observed, trying to sound clinical. The effect was ruined by her giggles.

  "Indeed, but we could do with a little exertion. Not only that, we'll be able to watch everything happen." He leered at her nudity.

  She leered back. His bullet-shaped penises were stunning works of art to her greedy eyes. "You should have had a mold made of those as well as your backside. Let's see how they like this position."

  Degorsk leaned back, supporting his weight on his hands. He spread his legs, the knees bent. Cassidy scooted forward until her crotch met his, her thighs over his hips, and mimicked his pose. Yes, she could see everything from this angle. Nice.

  He used one hand to position his organs to enter her. "Lift up," Degorsk said, and she tilted her hips slightly skyward, allowing his sweet invasion. They pressed towards each other, sliding together like the interlocking pieces of a puzzle.

  After a few clumsy starts over which they chortled unselfconsciously, they finally matched rhythm and moved as one. Cassidy reveled in the sight of her dark-skinned lover's body, framed by her lily-white legs and completely exposed to her as they worked to make pleasure happen. Degorsk's long braid hung over the bunched muscle of one shoulder, coiling next to him on the bed like a slick, black snake. She admired his chest, which wasn't as thick as Tranis and Lidon's but well-chiseled just the same. His abdomen was made up of two rows of eight bumps, longer in proportion than an Earther's. The smooth penises driving in and out of her core were shaded darker than the rest of his skin and gleamed wetly from their combined juices.

  Her arms tired quickly from supporting her as she met his strong thrusts, but she ignored the slight discomfort, enjoying the view as much of the sensation. Heaven help her, he felt and looked so right. All three men did.

  It's a sin. But on the heels of that tired, old argument came a new, startling one. But why is it a sin? Could the writers of the Word, fallible humans who reworked the stories so many times over the ages to suit their prejudices, have gotten it wrong?

  She knew she looked to justify her behavior and was reaching for any rationalization to excuse falling willingly in bed with three aliens. But with glorious dissolution fast approaching, she welcomed the idea that perhaps God didn't care who she gave herself to as long as love was the central component to the action. She loved Tranis, Lidon and Degorsk. Of that, she had no doubt.

  She heaved against Degorsk, now racing to reach climax before her arms gave out. He matched her pace, his gasps telling her he was close too. Their flesh pounded together, and at the first stirrings, Cassidy groaned his name.

  Orgasm embraced her, and her head fell back as she jerked helplessly in its grip. A few moments later Degorsk also succumbed. Cassidy forced her head up so she could watch his face suffuse with bliss, his lips parted to breath out sighs of delight.

  He gathered her in his arms and pulled her forward to lie on his chest. They rested that way for some time, letting their galloping pulses slow.

  "Did you like that?" Degorsk asked, rousing her from a light doze.

  "It was wonderful." And it had been, but the condemnations were in her head again, shouting her infamy.

  Degorsk sighed, the sound unhappy. "I can always tell when the intoxicant wears off. How sad you can't let go to enjoy fully."

  She looked up at his disappointed face and slid up his body to plant a kiss on his lips. "You know it has nothing to do with you. Admit it, I'm getting better."

  He smiled a little. "Yes, you are. Has your attitude changed?"

  Cassidy grabbed his braid and brought the loose ends to her face. She caressed her cheeks with the soft hair. "I have two different views now. On one hand, I know my body is designed to find pleasure in making children. It makes no sense God would fashion me in such a way only to make sexual pleasure a sin."

  "But your upbringing and the laws of your society say differently. I understand that."

  She nodded. "It's all I've ever heard, but it's wrong. It has to be. Even my grandfather hasn't been able to deny his needs."

  There. That shut up the judgmental voices in her head for the moment.

  Degorsk looked cautiously pleased. "And what of being the mate of three men?"

  Cassidy gave herself a moment to think before answering. "I wonder if my people got that wrong too. Some of the books from my grandfather's collection mention men having multiple wives. So polygamy wasn't always frowned upon." She traced his lips with her fingers. "Even now, there's contradictions within the official faith. Though wedding vows in this present time dictate marriage is until the death, men are allowed to divorce all the time and remarry. I've always found that inconsistency odd."

  "Societies evolve continuously, and rules alter from generation to generation. Eventually, Earth's current regime will change or fall. The only question is will it be worse or better?"

  Cassidy smiled at him, grateful he didn't talk down to her like so many men. Like her grandfather.

  Degorsk combed his fingers through her hair, making her shiver. "You didn't really answer my question, sweetling."

  She lowered her eyes. "I want to be with your clan. I don't want it to be wrong if love is involved."

  "Especially when that love is returned." She heard the quiet joy in his voice. He'd gotten the message she still didn't dare voice bluntly.

  She gazed into his purple eyes, eyes so alien yet still so kind. "You're not just saying that to make me feel better."

  "We love you, Cassidy."

  "Then it has to be all right. God has to forgive it." Please heavenly Father, please understand.

  "Can you forgive yourself?"

  She smiled ruefully. "I'm working on it."

  "What about your mother?"

  Cassidy's mouth opened and the words tumbled out. "She was a shameless whore who deserves the fiery pit-"

  Degorsk stopped her with a finger to her lips. "Whose words are those, precious girl?"

  She went very still. "My grandfather's."

  Her mother, with tears sliding down her cheeks. Being led out of the courtroom in shackles between two guards who dwarf her sunken frame. A last glance at Cassidy, sitting by her grandfather's side.

  "It's all right, Cassie-lassie. I love you forever and ever." The door shuts between them. Her mother is gone.

  "Degorsk?" Cassidy's voice was high-pitched, almost a shriek. The memories came steamrolling back, knocking her nearly senseless with their force. The trial where she'd testified against her mother, and the days before in the windowless room with her

  grandfather looming over her and telling her this is what really happened, you know she brought it on herself, say what I tell you or you'll be convicted too.

  And even before that, the day in the apartment.

  The man with the knife.

  Degorsk kiss
ed her. His hands stroked her shuddering body gently. "Don't be afraid of remembering. I'm right here with you. You can tell me, Cassidy. Tell me what happened."

  She curled tight against him, as if she could find shelter from the horror of five years ago. He cradled her, rocking her gently as she sobbed.

  * * * *

  Tranis paced the length of the bridge, trying not to look at the Earther battle cruisers lining up on the other side of their defense grid. He'd worried the Earthers would use the portal itself to attack, but either they wanted to keep its existence secret or they didn't like using the distorted passage.

  No doubt the gathering battle cruisers had launched the moment Earth knew the Kalquorian fleet had breached the outer security ring. The vessels, spewing out one-man fighters like loathsome multiple births, were clumsy-looking. Tranis knew better than to underestimate the clunky warships. With spoked laser cannons that could fire almost 360 degrees around them, they were more than enough trouble for the Kalquorian destroyers.

  Attack now, Piras, before they get in position and all their fighters are ready for ours.

  As if hearing Tranis' thoughts, Lidon said, "The security grid is down. Attack force is engaging the Earther fleet."

  The attack squadron was a distraction to keep the Earthers from noticing the cloaked invasion force. Tranis concentrated his attention on the vid of the portal entrance. A shimmering disturbance appeared briefly on the screen before winking out.

  "First ship has entered the portal," Simdow confirmed. "ETA to Earth, thirty minutes."

  A weak cheer went up among the crew. They still had a long way to go, and no one was ready to celebrate yet, especially knowing the death toll could be heavy.

  Tranis glanced at Lidon. "Any sign the Earthers have noticed the portal breach?"

  "None. Our fighters and destroyers are keeping them distracted." He shook his head, his mouth tightening in a thin line. "We just lost a destroyer. Security grid has been re-established."

  "How many got into the vortex?"

  "Six," Simdow said.

  "Security grid down again," Lidon reported. "Our fleet is re-engaging Earth defenders.