The Chosen One Read online

  “Are you prepared to kill people on the street?” Dane asks, eyeballing me with a knowing look. “To take out government officials and military and anyone else they send after you?”

  “I—” My breath oozes out in panicked spurts as I struggle to dispute Dane’s claims. He knows I wouldn’t be comfortable attacking innocent civilians or men and women doing their duty.

  “It won’t be forever,” Maddox says, clasping my hand under the table.

  “I can’t leave and let him attack Earth. I can’t do it.” A single tear leaks out of my eye.

  “We know that, Alinthia.” Glennev softens his tone. “Which is why we will defend it in your honor.” The hint of a smile crosses his face. “Arantu’s little stunt backfired in one regard,” he says, and I sit up a little straighter.

  “In what way?”

  Donovan brings up a holo screen with a large map of the galaxy. Different colored dots spring up all over the map as we watch it. “In airing that recording, he showed the galaxy how truly powerful you are.” He winks at me.

  “They’re not scared of you, Alinthia,” Glennev continues. “They are rallying behind you in droves.”

  “Arantu achieved what we were struggling to achieve,” Dane says. “He showed them his hand. He showed his fear. He confirmed you’re the more powerful one, and now, people believe in the prophecy and you, wholeheartedly. They believe you can do this, and they’re going to help.”

  “We have hundreds of supporter ships en route to Earth as we speak,” Glennev says. “And we’re going to contain him. Arantu won’t touch Earth. You can go into hiding for a few days, and when it’s safe, you can return, and the threat will be ended. I know you’re not happy about it, but I can also see in your eyes that you know this plan is logical and the only solution.”

  “You’ll keep my mom and aunt safe?”

  “We’ve already transported them to a safe house. I give you my word they will be protected and sheltered until the threat is ended.”

  I want to ask how they convinced Mom where I failed, but I decide, in my current grumpy sleep-deprived state, it’s probably best I don’t know.

  “And where are you sending us?”

  “To my home,” Glennev says. “Only a handful of my trusted advisors know where it is, and it’s completely safe with the latest high-tech security. No one will breach the property, and you’ll be protected.”

  “And you’re one hundred percent behind this plan?” I silently ask Dane.

  “Yes. I’ve gone through all the angles, and it’s the best possible solution.”

  “Okay.” I level Glennev with a blistering look. “I’ll go into hiding, against my better judgment, but you better keep Earth safe, because if you don’t, I won’t ever forgive you for banishing me and leaving the humans to their fate.”

  CHAPTER 18

  Maddox

  “Is she asleep?” I ask Coop as he steps out onto the silver-plated deck at the rear of Glennev’s property, here on Alluwind.

  “Yeah.” He sighs, rubbing his tired eyes as he sinks onto the lounger beside me. “But probably not for long.”

  Our girl has had difficulties sleeping since the night she had the dark dream about the dude with the red eyes. Add the situation on Earth into the mix and she’s only managing to grab an hour or two of sleep here and there. We’re all worried about her and doing the best we can to keep her occupied and distracted.

  “We need to get that damn travel pod open.” Wearing a slight grimace, I sip the odd-tasting purple beer Glennev had in the refrigerator. Guess it’s an acquired taste. But I can’t fault the dude because he made sure everything we could possibly need was already waiting for us when we arrived.

  Alluwind is an isolated planet on the far side of the galaxy with less than one hundred residents. The dark skies, barren landscape, and lack of natural water are the main reason why it’s remained uninhabited for centuries. Not that you’d realize that from our current vantage point. Glennev spared no expense building this little hideaway encased in an artificial dome with regulated air control.

  “If she wasn’t so stressed, she’d probably figure it out,” Coop suggests, pulling his top up over his head and tossing it on the deck. “I’m taking a swim,” he adds, shucking out of his pants and boxers and diving naked into the giant infinity pool. Glennev took his inspiration from Earth when building this pad, but the materials he used are definitely more sophisticated than anything the humans have access to.

  I lean back, squinting at the artificial sun, feeling the warmth on my skin, wishing there was something we could do to ease Alinthia’s fears. Beck and Dane have temporarily returned to the compound in Egypt, but they’re due back tonight, and I hope they have good news. Like the standoff above the Earth has ended and Arantu has backed the fuck off, but I know I’m probably dreaming. Arantu’s an arrogant fuck, and it doesn’t seem to matter that he’s outnumbered now; he refuses to withdraw. Glennev is reluctant to open fire so close to Earth because debris from any such battle would fall to ground level, decimating and destroying everything it its path. So, we’re at a standstill, and Alinthia’s nerves are strung tight.

  I continue sipping my beer, wishing we didn’t have this shit hanging over our heads so that we could enjoy being here with all this free time on our hands. In other circumstances, this would be the perfect vacation spot, but I’m questioning whether it was such a good idea coming here now, when it’s clear the lack of inaction is driving Alinthia insane.

  Coop swims lengths of the pool, up and down, back and forth, his movements causing gentle ripples in the placid water.

  “Hey.” I whip my head around at the sound of her sweet voice. “Was I asleep for long?” she asks mid-yawn.

  I stretch my arms out, beckoning her toward me. “No, sweetheart. You’ve barely slept at all.”

  She curls into my lap, resting her head on my chest. “I just can’t switch my brain off, and then I get the worst case of anxiety when I close my eyes and see those creepy red orbs staring back at me. I know it’s not real, but I can’t relax enough to sleep.”

  “I spoke with Beck earlier, and he’s picked up some sleep medication for you,” Coop says, swimming toward us. He rests his arms on the pool’s edge, tossing wet strands of hair back off his face.

  “What if I take that and I’m summoned to that ghastly place again and then I can’t wake up because I’m drugged?” She sits up straighter, twisting around in my lap. Her butt rests on top of my cock, and he instantly raises his head to say hello. I stifle a groan as my libido awakens, discreetly adjusting myself in my swim shorts before she notices.

  “You’ve got to sleep, babe,” Coop says, hauling himself out of the pool and sitting on the edge. “You’re exhausted.”

  “I know.” She yawns again, resting her head back on my bare chest. “But I’m also wired, and I doubt anything could relax me. I’m going stir-crazy worrying what’s going on down there and whether Mom and Aunt May are okay, and I still haven’t been able to open the travel pod, and—”

  “Princess, your mom and aunt are both fine. You’ve shared comms with them both days we’ve been here, and the main reason Dane returned to the compound is to discuss and agree to the strategy for getting Arantu to fuck off. If anything had happened, we’d already know.”

  “Maddox is right.” Coop turns around with his body on full display. “So, please put it out of your mind. You need to chill out.” He stands, walking toward us like he isn’t buck-ass naked with his cock slapping his thighs. “And I know just the thing.” He leans down, planting his hands on the arms of the lounger and presses a kiss to her lips. “Come swim with me, beautiful. It’s gorgeous in there and the water is the perfect temp.”

  Alinthia sits up straighter. I can’t see the expression on her face, but it’s enough to send blood rushing to Coop’s cock. His eyes flit to mine as his cock hardens. “I have an idea. Follow my lead, yeah?”

  I arch a brow, wondering exactly what he’s proposi
ng.

  He lifts Alinthia off my lap, pulling her into his chest for a hug. “You trust me and Maddox, baby?” he asks, and she tips her chin up.

  “You know I do.”

  “You trust us with your body? You trust us to make you feel good?”

  My eyes flit to Coop as I finally understand what he’s suggesting. My cock salutes the idea in a nanosecond, and I’m already painfully hard. I slip my hand under the band of my swim shorts, stroking my dick as I subtly nod at my brother. One part of me is surprised he’s up for this, because he was uncomfortable as fuck when Alinthia broached the subject. Another part of me isn’t the tiniest bit surprised because there isn’t anything Coop won’t do for her, including putting his needs aside in favor of hers.

  It’s the perfect distraction, and it could be just what she needs to fall into a deep sleep.

  “What do you have in mind?” Alinthia asks in a raspy voice, curiosity evident in her tone.

  “Come into the water, babe, and we’ll show you.”

  She nods, slowly lifting her sleep top up and whipping it off, exposing her bare upper body to me. The muscles in her back flex and roll as she bends forward to remove her shorts, and I’ve never noticed how fucking gorgeous her back is. Her body has transformed these past few months, and she has lean, corded muscle with gorgeous curves in all the right places. Is it weird that I’m drooling over her back? Because, fuck me, I can’t take my eyes off her. Even as she kicks her shorts and panties away, standing naked before me, it’s her back I’m drawn to, imagining my hands roaming every defined muscle, the tips of my fingers dancing up her elegant spine.

  She glances over her shoulder at me, her eyes dropping to where my hand is pumping my throbbing cock. “Are you joining us?” Her voice drips with desire, and her eyes glimmer with lust.

  I hop up, tugging my shorts down and kicking them away, continuing to pump my cock as I walk toward her, pressing my body up against her from behind. She leans back into me, closing her eyes and moaning, as I skim my fingers over her hips while Coop fondles her tits. “You sure you’re okay with this?” I ask.

  “I’m doing this for her. This is what she needs.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Let’s get you in the water, sweetheart,” I whisper, pressing kisses along her neck.

  “Okay,” she murmurs, opening her eyes and leaning forward to kiss Coop. “I love you,” she tells him, before twisting her head around to peck my lips. “And I love you.” She whimpers as Coop kneads her tits more firmly, and precum leaks out of the tip of my cock.

  Coop lifts her up, carrying her into the pool while I trail behind them. She wraps her legs around his waist, dotting kisses all over his face as he wades through the water. He walks halfway out, to where the water reaches chest level, flattening his back against the side of the pool and claiming her lips in a hard kiss. I move behind her, fisting her long, blonde hair in my hand and exposing the back of her neck. I pepper her nape with soft kisses while Coop devours her mouth. My hands slide around to her tits, and I tug at her nipples as Coop slides two fingers into her pussy. She cries out, arching her back into me as she thrusts her hips forward, riding Coop’s hand without shame.

  My hand lowers, and I draw swirls on her clit with my thumb as Coop pumps his fingers in and out of her. I continue to kiss her neck and grope her left boob while I play with her clit.

  “Oh, fuck,” she says, “that feels so good.”

  “That’s the whole point, babe,” Coop says, sucking her free tit into his mouth.

  I angle my head, leaning around her as I continue my ministrations, kissing her hard, plunging my tongue into her mouth, and swallowing her moans. Her body starts to tremble as Coop thrusts his fingers into her cunt faster and faster, his eyes locking on mine briefly as we both work our girl’s body into a frenzy.

  When she’s on the verge of letting go, I pinch her clit. “Come for us, baby.” She explodes, shaking and screaming, and we continue to work our fingers in her until she’s ridden the crest of her climax.

  “You still good with this?” Coop asks, lining his cock up to her pussy.

  “Are you kidding me?” she pants. “This is my fantasy come to life. I’m more than good with this. I want you both to fuck me. Don’t stop.”

  Coop slams into her in one fast thrust, and she grinds her hips against his as he claims her mouth again, rutting into her in fast thrusts. I grab both her tits, squeezing them hard while rolling her nipples between my thumbs and index fingers. Pressing my straining cock against her ass, I let her feel how aroused I am.

  Coop fucks her mercilessly while I caress her tits, kissing a line along her back, inhaling her scent and the smell of sex that permeates the air. “Fuck!” Coop hollers, gripping her hips and slamming into her with blatant need. I release her tits, roaming my hands all over her back, sliding my finger down between the cheeks of her ass, prodding her hole with my pinkie.

  She falls apart for a second time as Coop lets go, roaring as he orgasms inside her. She clings to him, her body heaving, and I selfishly pray she isn’t too tired to go again. Precum leaks from my crown and I don’t think I’m going to last long anyway. I wrap a hand around my cock, stroking it in long, firm strokes as she kisses Coop tenderly before lowering her legs to the floor of the pool and turning around to face me. Her arms encircle my neck as she stretches up to kiss me. “I’m not too tired,” she says, confirming I stupidly projected that thought. “Never for sex with any of you.”

  “It’s okay if you are,” I lie.

  She giggles. “Stop trying to talk me out of something we both want.”

  I don’t need to hear anymore. Lifting her up, I walk to the shallower end of the pool. “I want to take you from behind.” I set her down with her chest facing the wall of the pool, yanking her butt up and nudging her legs apart with my knee. She places her palms flat on the ledge as Coop swims over to join us. He slides his hand down her body, rubbing her swollen clit while I line my cock up to her entrance, kissing my way down her gorgeous back.

  She shivers, thrusting her ass up, and I take that as my cue. I slide into her in one quick thrust, and she cries out as I fill her up. Fuck, she feels so good hugging my cock with her tight walls. I pull out slowly before slamming back into her, grabbing hold of her hips, and repeating the movement over and over. Sweat drips down my back as I pound into her, closing my eyes and wallowing in the sensations overtaking me. When I open my eyes again, Coop is sucking on her tits while toying with her clit, and she’s whimpering, jerking her butt back in rhythm with my thrusts.

  I press my body down over hers as I continue fucking her, running my lips along the elegant column of her neck. Blood pools in my cock, and a familiar tingle builds at the base of my spine. My balls swell and tighten, and I slam in and out of her like a man possessed. “I love you, princess,” I yell a second before my orgasm detonates out of nowhere, consuming my body with wave after wave of blissful sensation. Sweat coats my back as I thrust into her a couple last times before collapsing onto her back with my arms snaking around her waist.

  Coop holds us both up, pressing his lips to her forehead. “You doing okay, babe?”

  “I’m peachy,” she slurs, as if she’s just drunk ten beers. “And sleepy.” She states the obvious.

  “Love you,” I whisper, pressing a kiss atop her head before straightening up and scooping her into my arms.

  “I love you both,” she says, leaning against my chest and holding Coop’s hand at the same time. “Thank you for making one of my dreams come true.”

  “It was our pleasure,” I murmur, treading through the water toward the steps. “Now, sleep, princess. We’ve got you.”

  CHAPTER 19

  Alinthia

  “What the actual fuck?” Dane’s rabid tone drags me from the best sleep I’ve had in days, and I attempt to move, but I’m sandwiched between two bodies. Two, hot, naked, gloriously tempting bodies, I might add. We were all tired after our hot fucking session in the pool,
and we collapsed on the couch in a tangle of limbs.

  I blink my eyes open, not surprised to find I’ve been using Coop’s chest as a pillow. I’m prone to that, so it’s nothing new. One of them draped a white sheet over us at some point, and I’m grateful for it. Maddox is glued to my body from behind, and his arm is casually slung low on my waist. Thank the stars for Glennev’s state-of-the-art home with its adaptable temp. It’s structured to read the body heat in the room and automatically adjust the temperature accordingly. Otherwise, I’d probably be a sweaty mess right now.

  “Don’t mind us,” Dane continues, anger lacing his tone. “We’ll continue doing all the legwork while you guys indulge in threesomes like we aren’t on the brink of all-out war.”

  “Chill the fuck out,” Coop mumbles, finally stirring. His lips automatically move to my head, and he presses a kiss into my hair as if on autopilot. “Hey, beautiful.” He eases back to look at me. “Did you sleep?”

  “Like a baby.” I peck his lips. “Thanks to you and Maddox.”

  Coop slants a smug look in Dane’s direction before glancing out the window. My eyes follow suit. It’s dark out. Again, that’s thanks to Glennev’s auto simulation. Beck was like a kid in a candy store when we first arrived here because all the tech is cutting edge. This vast property is housed inside an artificial dome that can be switched to different settings. One of the settings is modeled on Earth, so we experience days and nights as if we are on Earth. It’s helped us keep some semblance of normalcy, but it’s challenging because we’ve never had days on end where we’ve had little to nothing to do. “We were helping Alinthia relax so she could sleep,” he explains. A smirk slips over his mouth. “It’s dirty work, but someone’s got to do it.” I slap his chest as Maddox half snorts, half grunts, rousing behind me. I twist around to face him, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. He rubs his thumb along my lower lip before sitting up abruptly, startling me.