Craved, p.1
Craved, page 1
part #7 of Tribute Brides of the Drexian Warriors Series
Craved—Tribute Brides of the Drexian Warriors #8
A Sci-Fi Alien Warrior Romance
Tana Stone
Broadmoor Books
She thinks the gorgeous, silver fox alien is a hologram. He’s not.
The only alien warrior True isn’t intimidated by is the one in her holodeck simulation. Not only is True a virgin, she’s barely been kissed, so the huge, hunky Drexian warriors terrify her. But the guy in her simulation doesn’t. He may be as big and built as the rest of them, but she knows he’s not real. It’s the only reason she’s not afraid to kiss him.
Captain Varden never meant to lie to True, but when she assumed he was a hologram, he didn’t correct her. Especially not after she laid that kiss on him. Now she’s convinced he isn’t real, which is probably for the best. He’s too old for someone as young and pretty as her, although when she kisses him he feels like a Drexian cadet again.
When the Kronock attack and they’re forced to abandon the space station, True comes face-to-face with her hologram—on the escape transport. Before she can be properly outraged, they’re stranded on a jungle planet. Between trying to stay alive and evading the enemy, can she forgive him for deceiving her? Can he ever accept that she could fall for someone so much older?
This standalone alien abduction romance novel features steamy scenes on a jungle planet, action-packed space battles, smoking-hot Drexian warriors who will do anything to protect the women they love, and a guaranteed HEA. If you like silver foxes, aliens with extra erogenous zones, and virgins getting (a lot) more than they bargained for, you’ll love CRAVED, the eighth book in Tana Stone’s sci-fi romance Tribute Brides of the Drexian Warriors series.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Epilogue
Preview of BOUNTY—Barbarians of the Sand Planet #1
Also by Tana Stone
About the Author
Chapter One
Captain Varden ran a hand across the scruff that he’d let grow on his face over the past several days. Usually, he was clean-shaven, but he hadn’t left the bridge of the space station since he’d gotten word of the possible attack by the Drexians’ dreaded enemy, the Kronock. Although he’d never worn a beard, he knew his facial hair would have the same traces of silver that shot through the hair at his temples. Not that he could worry about that now, or the fact that he must have looked as exhausted as he felt.
He swallowed hard and peered up at the screens suspended overhead, tapping the toe of his boot against the metal floor and hearing the hollow echo over the usual sounds of computers beeping, fingers tapping on screens, and static transmissions. He’d been captain of the Drexians’ high-tech space station—also known as the Boat—for almost two decades, but he’d never had to deal with something quite like this before. Since the Boat was used primarily as a place to bring Earth females to be matched with Drexian warriors—and it came complete with holographic fantasy suites, alien wedding planners, and even holodecks for honeymoons—military defense had never been a major issue. Until now.
His people’s mortal enemy, the Kronock, had recently been testing the station’s defenses. Between sabotage and outright attacks, they’d shown that they were no longer technologically inferior monsters. They had adapted and they had evolved, and none of it boded well for the Drexians who’d pledged to keep Earth safe from their violence. He rocked back on his heels as he scanned the readouts. Where were they?
After doubling the space station’s patrols and adding even more officers to monitor long-range sensors, there had been nothing. The invasion should have happened by now, but after initial intelligence reports the day of the Boat’s holiday party, there had been virtual silence. Instead of feeling relieved, Varden felt a gnawing sense of impending doom.
“Incoming transmission from former high commander Kax.” One of his officers turned from where he stood at a glossy ebony console.
Varden nodded. “On screen.”
The Drexian warrior’s face appeared above him—vivid green eyes narrowed in obvious concern. “Captain, we’ve been able to track down the Kronock fleet.”
Varden clasped his hands behind his back. Kax had taken a small group of intelligence officers to track and gather information on the Kronock movements . He knew the warrior was skilled in slipping in and out of Kronock territory undetected—using stealth as opposed to brute force.
“Brother!”
The captain didn’t need to turn to know that the Drexian who’d entered the bridge was Kax’s younger brother, Dorn. With his deep, booming voice and pounding footfall, the former commander of Inferno Force was the definition of brute force. He looked it, too—dark hair hanging loose around his neck, tattoos peeking from underneath the arms of a tight black T-shirt, and a face full of stubble.
He gave Varden a chest salute when he reached him, then pivoted back to face his brother on the screen. “What have you discovered?”
The corners of Kax’s mouth twitched, but he restrained himself from whatever comment he wished to make about his younger, impetuous brother. The captain had been witness to enough arguments between the two to know that the only thing they seemed to share was the color of their eyes—and their loyalty to the Drexian empire.
“Not good news, I’m afraid,” Kax said, his face losing any trace of amusement. “We got reports of them massing ships within an asteroid belt near Talaurus II.”
Dorn grunted. “Grek. Since when are these scaly monsters strategic?”
“I think we’ve learned that our enemies are not what we’d been led to believe,” Kax said.
“What they’d led us to believe,” Varden added.
After nearly thirty human years of skirmishes with a technologically outmatched rival, the Drexians had discovered that the Kronock had been secretly developing weapons and high-powered ships—some with the aid of Drexian traitors. Now, the enemy was a formidable opponent.
“Does it look like they’re preparing for battle?” Dorn asked.
Kax gave a curt shake of his head. “It looks like they’re prepping for war.”
Varden’s stomach tightened into an even harder knot. “What about the earlier reports that the Boat is their target?”
“Their end game is Earth, but from the chatter we’ve picked up, they want to strike a blow to the Drexian empire we won’t soon forget.” Kax pressed his mouth into a hard line. “They want to take all our human mates.”
Dorn growled. “Over my dead body.”
“I believe that is the idea,” his brother said, then shifted his eyes to the captain. “We couldn’t get close enough to lay eyes on the fleet, but our sources say they have at least a dozen battleships.”
Varden remembered what had happened when a Kronock battleship had jumped in and fired on the Boat. “We’re no match for their firepower.” He thought about the three Inferno Force battleships that had arrived to flank the station. “And we’d be outnumbered.”
“No one can outfight Inferno Force,” Dorn said.
The fiercest fighting force in the Drexian empire—and arguably the galaxy—Inferno Force had never lost a battle against the Kronock. Until just a few days ago.
“Inferno Force is still spread throughout the empire,” Kax said. “Even if we could get them all to you in time, that would leave planets and colonies undefended.”
“What is more important than Earth?” Dorn asked, his voice growing louder.
“On that, you and I agree,” Kax said. “Earth must be defended at all costs.”
Since the Drexians had stopped producing enough of their own females to continue their species, they’d relied on their compatibility with humans and the deal they’d made with Earth decades earlier. If the planet was destroyed or invaded and harvested, as the Kronock liked to do, that would mean the end of the Drexians taking tribute brides from Earth as mates for their warriors. Eventually, it would mean the end of the Drexians altogether.
“Then the answer is clear,” Varden said, the realization hitting him as if he’d been doused with freezing water. “We must abandon the Boat and get the women to safety.”
Dorn swung his head to face Varden. “Leave the Boat?”
Kax closed his eyes briefly, then nodded. “The captain is right. It’s the only way to ensure the humans aren’t taken by the Kronock. Then Inferno Force can focus its attention on repelling and destroying instead of defending.”
Dorn opened his mouth to argue, then his shoulders sagged. “You are both right. Keeping the females safe and protecting Earth is more important than the station.”
“I’ll begin evacuation protocol,” Varden said.
Dorn clapped a hand on his shoulder without a word and strode off the bridge.
“I am sorry,” Kax said.
Varden nodded. “I will send you the re ndezvous coordinates on an encrypted channel so you and your team can meet us there.” Before Kax could ask, Varden added, “I will make sure your mate is on a transport with one of our medics.”
Kax gave him a grateful smile. “I know she’s early in the pregnancy, but…”
“No need to explain,” Varden said, watching the warrior’s jaw relax before he signed off and the screen went blank.
The bridge was nearly silent for a moment as all the officers turned toward him. They’d heard the transmission and knew what it meant. He raised his eyes and nodded to his first officer, Kos. “Begin evacuation proceedings.”
The warrior’s eyes were wide, but he straightened his shoulders. “Yes, sir.”
Varden fought back a wave of nausea at the thought of the station he’d captained for so long being destroyed. Glancing around the gleaming metal and black of the bridge where he’d spent so many hours, he let out a breath to steady himself. It was the right call, although he hated to make it.
As a Drexian warrior, he’d been trained to handle battles. Before rising to the rank of captain and taking command of the Boat, he’d fought in countless battles against the Kronock. He did not fear a fight. What he feared was putting
the residents of the space station at risk, specifically the human women who’d been taken from Earth to be brides for his species. Even more specifically, he feared for the safety of one human. True.
He knew he had no claim to her, but he could not help thinking of the pretty, golden-haired human. Not only was he not on the list to receive a tribute bride, True wasn’t even a tribute bride. Not anymore. She lived in the independent section of the station with the other humans who’d rejected the concept of taking an alien warrior mate. He knew all that logically, but it didn’t matter to his heart.
Since the day he’d stumbled into her holodeck program—to be fair, the day he’d used his override commands to sneak in—and she’d assumed he was a holographic character, Varden had been obsessed with her. It didn’t help that she’d kissed him—the best kiss of his life—before running off down the holographic beach.
He’d thought of little else since that day, and he’d conspired to join her on the holodeck every time she was there, although he’d yet to build up the courage to tell her that he wasn’t a figment of light and energy beams. He didn’t want to ruin her escape, since he knew she used the peaceful ocean setting to get away from the realities of being abducted from Earth and taken to live on a high-tech alien space station. At least that’s what he told himself every time he failed to confess the truth. The reality was that he was enjoying the fantasy too much to risk spoiling it. The time he spent with her walking on the beach was the happiest he’d ever been, and he knew that would all change the second she realized he was a flesh-and-blood Drexian.
Just thinking about her standing on the edge of the water, the breeze blowing her hair back as she laughed, made his cock twitch. He’d never considered taking a tribute bride for himself—he had long since passed the window for that—but his desire for this timid human who usually avoided contact with anyone but other independent females was overpowering.
Now, even though his thoughts should be solely on the evacuation of the Boat, he couldn’t help thinking about her and worrying about her safety. He’d put one of his best officers in charge of shepherding the females in the independent section to safety.
Taking long steps toward his first officer, he rested a hand on the warrior’s shoulder. “Contact Dakar and Vox. Assign them the task of getting the females from the independent side of the station into a transport ship along with the tribute brides.”
“I’m assuming you wish those women to depart after the tributes.”
Varden shook his head. “No. Send them together. All humans have equal priority on this station.”
Kos cocked an eyebrow but began quickly swiping his fingers across his console to send the messages. The captain knew it was out of the ordinary to consider the women who’d rejected their Drexian mates to be in the same category as the tribute brides who had agreed to the deal, but he didn’t care. He wasn’t taking any chances with True’s safety. He also knew that Dakar and Vox would take their job seriously, since their own mates had been independents before falling for their respective Drexians.
The independents who’d changed their minds and taken Drexian mates lit the smallest flicker of hope within Varden. If Ella and Shreya—both staunch independents—had changed their minds, then maybe True would, as well.
She still wouldn’t choose a hologram, he reminded himself. And that’s what she thinks you are. A creation of light pulses.
He couldn’t help wondering what would happen when they all got off the station and were gathered at the Drexian colony rendezvous point. He’d managed to hide his identity from her on the Boat because it was such a massive station, and they moved in very different areas. But a colony was different. And there would be no holodeck.
He remembered the last time he’d been with True in her “Gulf of Mexico” simulation. They’d been sitting side by side in the sand, her in a flower-print dress and him in his Kranji uniform, since that was what he’d been wearing the first time he’d entered the program, and she thought that was what he’d been programmed to wear. The waves had been rolling in and barely lapping at their bare toes.
“I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have this…and you,” she said, not taking her blue eyes off the water. “Sometimes the idea of being alone on an alien space station forever is a lot to handle.”
“You aren’t alone.”
“I know.” She twirled a strand of hair around one finger. “The station is packed with people and aliens, but eventually everyone pairs off. My best friend, Ella, lives with Dakar in the officers’ section, and even Shreya moved over there with Vox. Who knows? Maybe this is a trend, and every independent will end up hooking up with a Drexian except me.”
“Why not you?” He’d been curious about whether the idea of an alien repulsed her. “You do not find Drexians appealing?”
True giggled. “This would be a really weird conversation if you were actually real.” She glanced at him. “Obviously, I find them attractive. I mean, you’re incredibly hot. It’s just…” Her cheeks flushed. “I can’t.”
“Why not?” He took her hand and stroked his thumb gently over the back of it.
Before she’d told him, the holodeck had beeped to let her know the time was up, and she’d dashed off. But not before giving him a kiss that he’d felt all the way to his toes. Now he may never know why True felt that she couldn’t take a mate.
His first officer cleared his throat, and Varden looked down to where he was massaging the man’s shoulder. Jerking his hand away, he mumbled an apology and stepped back.
Maybe it was just as well he wouldn’t be able to continue whatever was going on with True. His craving for the woman was driving him mad.
Chapter Two
True flipped her hair off her shoulder as she glanced back. Good. No one saw her leave the independent section.
The last thing she needed was one of her friends asking her where she was going again. She knew she’d been spending a lot of time on the holodeck lately, but she had a good explanation. At least, it sounded good when she explained it to herself.
“It’s stress relief,” she whispered. That’s what she’d tell anyone who asked. That’s what she’d told her best friend, Ella, when she’d hit her up for her holodeck access code again.
She hurried down the wide corridor toward the inclinator. It was still early enough that the space station was yet to be bustling with activity, and she hoped the holodecks would be empty. Even with a special access code, she knew she wasn’t supposed to take time from a tribute bride or a Drexian warrior, but she really needed to get into her simulation. The stress-relief line wasn’t a total lie.
