The Chosen One Read online

  “Glennev thinks it’s important we solidify the bond and that Dane’s refusal to embrace our connection is weakening us and denting my confidence.”

  Coop stabs the button on the machine and jumps off, ripping me off my treadmill before I’ve had time to blink. He pulls me into his arms, tipping my chin up with one finger. “You’ve got to stop stressing about Dane. You’re tying yourself into knots worrying, and that’s affecting your ability to cope.” He presses his lips to mine. “Dane loves you, Alinthia. He won’t admit it, even to himself, but deep down, he knows. You can’t keep pushing him because he’s a stubborn fuck. You have to wait for him to come to you.”

  “What if he never gets there?” I whisper.

  He brushes his fingers along the nape of my neck, spreading warmth and delicious tremors all over my body. “He will. You need to be patient.” He nibbles on my earlobe. “Besides,” he pants into my ear, pushing me back against the wall. “Aren’t the three of us enough for you for now?”

  “Of course, you are,” I rasp, gasping as he licks that sensitive spot behind my ear. “It’s not about that. I love how close I am to all of you, and I want that with him too.”

  “He’ll get there,” he says, thrusting his hips into mine, letting me feel his erection. “And in the meantime, we’re going to shower you with love and affection, so you won’t have time to feel sad.” He slides a hand between our bodies, cupping my crotch through my yoga pants, and a throbbing ache pulses in my core. “Fuck, I’m so hard for you, beautiful.”

  “Coop.” I grind against him as a whimper flies out of my mouth. “We can’t do this here. The others are just outside.”

  “Only makes it more exciting,” he says, slipping his hand under the band of my yoga pants and sliding two fingers inside me. “I think we need to add more items to the relationship rules,” he says, kissing each corner of my mouth as he pumps his fingers in and out of me.

  “Like what?” I pant, throwing my head back as his fingers work their magic.

  “Like we need to get each other off daily.” His mouth collides with mine before I can reply, and he kisses me like he’s dying and I’m the oxygen he needs to survive. He works his fingers faster, and I’m barreling toward a cliff. My legs quiver as my orgasm builds, and I’m clawing at his back, trying to drag his training top up so I can feel his warm skin under my hand.

  I cry out when he rips his mouth from mine without warning, yanks my pants and panties down, and buries his head between my thighs. The instant his tongue swirls around my swollen clit, I shatter, exploding into a thousand tiny particles of heavenly bliss. He laps at me before standing, pulling his cock out, and thrusting inside me in one fast move.

  He swallows my new cries with his mouth as he fucks me without mercy against the wall. My legs wrap around his waist as he holds me up, grinding his hips and slamming into me over and over. I find my way under his top, digging my nails into his back as he fucks me like I’ve never been fucked before.

  And then I’m shattering again, and he’s with me, and we’re kissing continuously, capturing our mutual whimpers of pleasure as his thrusts slow down. But we don’t break apart. We stay in position, kissing with less urgency now, but neither of us want to break our lip lock.

  “You have got to be kidding me.”

  I shriek at the sound of Maddox’s deep voice, opening my eyes and tearing my lips from Coop’s. Maddox stands behind us with his hands on his hips and a stern expression on his face. But I’m not buying it because his lips are twitching, and I know he’s smothering his amusement.

  “Into voyeurism now, bruh, huh?” Coop says, slowly untangling my legs from around his waist and pulling my panties and pants back into place.

  “In case you’ve forgotten, we’re here to train, and Donovan is less than pleased with your antics.”

  “Donovan can kiss my ass,” Coop quips, bending down to retrieve the shorts pooled at his ankles.

  “I’m not kissing that hideous hairy thing,” Donovan says, poking his head through the door and visibly shivering as he eyes Coop’s naked butt.

  Coop yanks up his shorts and turns around, flipping Donovan the bird. “My ass is as smooth as a baby’s bottom. Tell him, beautiful,” he says, taking my hand and steering me forward.

  “Coop has a perfect ass,” I loyally agree. “Come feel if you don’t believe me.”

  Three pairs of eyes lock on mine.

  “What?” I stare at them with doe eyes. “You started this.” My faux innocent gaze bounces between Donovan and Coop.

  “And I’m ending it,” Maddox says, pinning both of us with a cautionary look as he jabs his finger in the air. “Both of you outside now. Donovan will start the drills until I’m back.”

  “Where are you going?” Coop calls after his retreating form.

  “To the security room to wipe the camera feed.” He turns around, walking backward as he faces us. “Unless you want the whole compound talking about your ass.”

  Coop doesn’t look altogether unpleased at that suggestion, and I swat the back of his head. “Defend my honor, you scoundrel.”

  His chest rumbles with laughter as he pulls me into his arms, kissing my temple. “Yes, ma’am. Proceed, good sir,” he says in a terrible fake English accent, leveling his gaze on Maddox.

  Maddox shakes his head, laughing. “Next time, you can explain.”

  “There won’t be a next time,” Donovan says, pointing his finger at us. “No more fucking in the gym.” His eyes glint mischievously. “Not unless you’re prepared to share.” He wiggles his brows and blows Coop a kiss, deliberately goading him, before sauntering back into the training room, whistling under his breath.

  CHAPTER 11

  “You did good, beautiful,” Coop says when we finally make it back to our chambers later that night. After spending the afternoon in combat training, the mind control session with Coop was a welcome relief. He’s showing me how to stretch my mental capabilities, and we’re using a form of meditation to work through some exercises. It was very calming, and now I feel ready for bed, which is unfortunate, because I can’t crawl under the covers no matter how much my body craves it.

  “I had a good teacher,” I say, stifling a yawn.

  “Wow. Thanks for that, princess.” Maddox pouts, and I race to his side at the stove, flinging my arms around him from behind.

  I press my face into his back. “You’re a great teacher, too.” Switching the heat off at the stove, he turns around, pulling me into his chest. “You know I couldn’t do this without all of you.” Cupping my face, he draws me into a long, passionate kiss, and another layer of stress evaporates.

  “Is that ready?” Dane asks, interrupting our moment.

  “It’s ready.” Maddox releases me with a smile. “Sit your butts down.”

  We congregate at the dining table, eating in amicable silence. After dinner, Dane and I set out to meet Glennev for an update while the other three stay behind to watch a movie. It’s late when we return, and the living area is empty. One of the guys left a lamp on, but the rest of the room is cloaked in darkness. Dane retreats to his room with a quick parting good night, and I pad quietly into my bedroom, not wanting to disturb Beck if he’s already asleep. But he’s not. He’s sitting up in bed, reading, with his glasses on and the multitude of leather bands still wrapped around his wrist. “How did it go?” he asks, putting his tablet down.

  “We have eighteen different volunteer representatives, and initial contact has been made to each of their home planets,” I begin explaining while stripping out of my clothes. “Ellya has been reassigned as a liaison officer, and she’s already working on registering each of the guests so she can make plans to return them home. A lot of progress has been made in a short time span, so it’s good.”

  I kick my clothes away, crawling over the bed in only my panties. “What did you guys get up to tonight?”

  “We watched one of those Jason Bourne movies, and I’ve been reading since I came to bed.”
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  “Anything interesting?” I inquire, tipping my head toward his tablet.

  “I’m going through the research Tav sent me,” he replies as he reaches for me, pulling me onto his lap. “But it’s definitely not as interesting as you.” He leans in, pressing hot, wet kisses along the underside of my jaw.

  “Mmm. That feels nice.” I rest my hands on his shoulders. His mouth moves lower, his lips brushing along my collarbone, sending a rake of shivers all over my skin. He gets braver as his mouth descends lower again, and I hold my breath, my body tingling in anticipation. His lips glide along my breast, and his mouth latches onto my nipple. He tentatively sucks it into his mouth, lifting his eyes to watch my expression, seeking approval he’s doing it right.

  A shot of liquid lust stretches from my breasts to my pussy, and I wriggle on his lap, grinding against the growing bulge in his pants, needing to ease the friction quickly building inside me. He fondles one breast while he sucks and nips at the other, and a satisfied moan escapes my lips. “Don’t stop, babe. That feels unbelievably good.”

  He flips us over, flattening me on my back as he trails a path up and down my body, and I’m squirming with need. Beck is a fast learner, and he’s studied the little signs my body makes. Not that I’m surprised. He loves finding out everything there is to know about a subject and analyzing it in detail.

  If he wants to make me his latest project, you won’t hear any complaints.

  When he presses his mouth against my panties, I squeal, bucking my hips as I fist handfuls of his dark hair. “I need these off,” he says, hooking his thumbs in the side and slowly pulling them down my legs until I’m naked. He stands, dropping his pants, and his cock springs forth, standing proudly and expectantly. “I need to taste you again,” he confirms, positioning himself between my legs.

  I stretch my legs wider, granting him full access, and he buries his head between the apex of my thighs, enthusiastically diving in. His hot tongue devours my pussy, and when he pumps his fingers inside me, while pressing his tongue down firmly on my clit, much like last night, I come apart, and he stays with me, riding my climax until I’m a quivering mess on the bed.

  “Alinthia.” He leans down over me, looking nervous as he inspects my face. “I want to make love to you. May I?”

  Fuck. This guy. Seriously. Can he be any sweeter?

  “You don’t have to ask, babe, but yes. Please make love to me, Beck.”

  With shaking hands, he grabs a condom from the bedside table, and I help him put it on. Then he situates himself between my legs, looking down at me with a whole host of emotions crisscrossing his face. His feelings slap me in the face through our bond, and I run my fingers through his hair, kissing him softly. “Don’t be nervous. This is just us, and I am going to love everything you do to me. I promise.”

  “You’ll tell me if I’m doing it wrong?” he whispers, his cheeks flushing.

  “Don’t worry. I’ve got you.” Reaching down, I cup his balls, kneading them softly before I grab his sheathed length and guide him to my opening. Slowly, he pushes inside me, and my back arches off the bed as I feel him slide in me for the first time.

  “Oh, fuck,” he exclaims as he inches in fully. “You feel so good.”

  “I love you,” I whisper, peppering his beautiful face with kisses. “I love you so fucking much, Beck.” He starts moving, pulling in and out carefully as if I might break. “You can go harder and faster. It won’t hurt me.”

  He picks up the pace, and the look of fierce concentration on his face as he moves in and out of me melts my heart. “Kiss me.” I grab him down on top of me, wrapping my legs around his waist and squeezing his ass, urging him to bury himself deeper, to go harder. He reads my intentions clearly, speeding up as he thrusts into me more feverishly, his body shaking and trembling under my touch.

  “Oh fuck, Alinthia.” Little beads of sweat dot his brow as he caresses my breasts, nuzzling his mouth into my neck, while continuing to pound into me. “I’m going to come.”

  “Come for me, Beck. I want to feel you come apart inside me.”

  His body locks up briefly, every muscle straining, and he shouts out my name as he climaxes deep inside me.

  After he’s disposed of the condom, he insists on making me come again with his tongue, and then we curl up together, sweaty and sated, all worries of enemies and impending alien attacks forgotten. “Now I know what all the fuss is about,” he says, spooning me from behind. “Did I… Was that okay?”

  I smile, twisting my head around so I can kiss him. “It was perfect. You were perfect.”

  “Thank you.” He plants a tender kiss on my mouth. “I’m so glad I waited to do this with you. Nothing beats the feeling of being inside you like that. I fear I may become addicted.”

  I laugh, turning around in his arms. “I have zero issue with that, and it’ll be fun discovering what you like.”

  He threads his hands through my hair, opening himself fully to me. “Can you feel that?” he whispers. “All the ways in which you light me up from the inside? I never believed this depth of feeling was possible, but you’ve made it happen.”

  “You’ve made it happen too,” I say, kissing the underside of his wrist. “And I like to believe we were always meant to be together. All five of us.”

  “I know Coop has his jealousies and Dane’s still in denial, but I love what we’re building. I love that I get to share you and love you alongside my brothers. We’re a family.” His voice chokes on emotion. “The only family I’ve ever known, and nothing or no one is taking that away.”

  We drift off to sleep, locked in one another’s arms, and I have the biggest smile on my face.

  I shiver as I push my way through the fog with my hands stretched out in front of me, desperately trying to feel my way, to feel something solid, but my palms only meet wispy streams of air. Chills zip up my legs as my bare feet race across frozen ground, and I realize I’m naked.

  Gradually, the fog fades, but the environment is no clearer.

  Eerie darkness swathes me on all sides as I stumble through black nothingness. A shrill, squawking sound in proximity has me jumping in fright, and a scream rips from my mouth. The terrain underfoot becomes jagged, and I wince as hard stone cuts my feet.

  Whispered words float through my ears from all corners, and I spin around and around, panic bubbling up my throat as an impending sense of danger washes over me.

  “Who’s there?” I call into the void, but no one replies.

  The whispering accelerates, and now, it sounds like it’s coming from many voices. Butterflies scatter in my chest and my gut churns sourly as anxiety floods my system.

  I run, ambling aimlessly through the blank, black canvas.

  Out of nowhere, two red flames burn within oval eyes, and I slam to a halt just before I run into whomever or whatever they belong to. An icy cold wind whips my hair around my head, and my heart pounds crazy fast. The flames spread wide, and the red eyes move toward me.

  Acting on instinct, I step back, and the whispering starts up again, growing louder as it comes closer. My breath oozes out in panicked spurts as claustrophobia sets in, and it feels like the walls are closing around me. My limbs lock up tight, and I can’t move as if my entire body has been bound in chains. Paralysis sets in, and my fear reaches epic proportions.

  Although I’m surrounded by a black void, my body trembles under the weight of many invisible stares. The red eyes move closer and closer until they’re staring directly into my eyes. Warm, sour air rushes over my face, and I’d gag if my mouth wasn’t clamped shut along with every muscle in my body.

  “Chosen One,” a creepy voice hisses, and my heartrate elevates to worrying levels. “Let me in.” Shivers skate over my bare flesh, and panicked screams are trapped in my throat. “This is always how it was meant to be.”

  “Fight him, Alinthia.” My Verronian father’s voice echoes in my ear. “Reinforce your shields and run!”

  I focus my mind, slapping
walls up as I push my body to break free of the invisible cage I’m trapped in. I strain against the force holding me, pushing with all my might, strengthening my mental shields and pushing my rigid limbs until something snaps and my body is free. I don’t waste any time, racing back the way I came, fleeing from the creepy red eyes and the haunting whispered voices.

  “You can’t outrun the darkness, Chosen One,” the creepy voice calls out after me, the words curling around my body like invisible arms. “You’ve already opened the door, and now, it’s too late.” A hand touches my back, and I scream from the pit of my lungs, still running, still shielding my mind. “I will find you. I will always find you. And then you will be mine.”

  CHAPTER 12

  I bolt upright in the bed, screaming and shaking, clutching my arms around my body as I sob hysterically. Beck is awake in an instant, rubbing sleep from his eyes as he wraps his arms around me from behind. “What’s wrong? What happened?” he inquires, as Coop and Maddox materialize in the room.

  I turn around in Beck’s embrace, clinging to him as I bury my face in his neck, soaking his bare skin with my tears. I’m conscious the guys are silently communicating, but I’m too busy freaking out to eavesdrop. I tremble, and my sobs become more frenzied as the memory of those red eyes and the hand on my back flits through my mind terrorizing me all over again.

  I rock back and forth on Beck’s lap, and the bed dips as the other guys climb on top. A warm chest presses up against my back, and a hand touches my face. Beck scoots over, making room for Maddox, and he places one arm around me, resting his hand on Coop’s back until we’re encased in a group hug.

  “Shush, beautiful. We’ve got you.” Coop presses tender kisses on top of my head while Beck kisses my cheek and Maddox rubs my arm.

  Gradually, warmth and feeling returns to my limbs and my sobs die out. I rest my head back on Maddox’s shoulder, keeping Beck and Coop close to my side.

  “What happened, princess?” Maddox asks, gently sliding me over onto his lap while Coop slips a nightie down over my head.