Vox jerked back to the fact the alarms were blaring around them and glared at Lodar and Cross. His eyes narrowed when he saw the glazed look on their faces as they stared at the sheer cloth covering Riley's breasts as she turned and sat down again on the bed. He stepped in front of her so he was blocking her.
"Get out!" Vox roared in outrage.
Lodar jerked back, running into Cross, and nodded. He turned to leave but couldn't resist one more peek at Riley sitting on the bed with her hair all disheveled and wearing an outfit he would never forget for the rest of all his lives. He shook his head and hurried out when Vox took another threatening step toward him.
"Vox-" Cross started to say in a deep, husky voice.
"Get out before I kill you both," Vox snarled.
"Just hurry," Cross muttered before he turned and followed Lodar with a shake of his head.
Vox turned and glared at Riley. "Get dressed. We don't have much time. I need to get you somewhere safe."
Riley glared at him and pointed to the door. "You get your happy little ass out of here, and I will. I'm not getting naked with you watching me!"
Vox growled out a warning in a low voice. "This is not the time for modesty. Get dressed now, or I will dress you."
Riley stood up and walked over to where she had laid out her clothes the night before. "Turn around and I will," she said stubbornly, putting her hands on her hips and glaring at him.
Vox swore loudly before he turned so his back was to her. He had to quit looking at her or neither one of them would be dressed in another two seconds. He closed his eyes, but that only made the image of Riley standing proudly in front of him in that damn sheer outfit with her huge, perky breasts pointing daggers at him and her creamy flesh begging for his touch.
Drink milk, his cat purred.
Guall's balls. Vox groaned, forcing his eyes open and his mind to start reciting every damn training procedure he could remember from his youth. If I don't claim her soon I'm going to explode.
"I'm ready," Riley's voice sounded breathlessly behind him.
Vox turned to see Riley dressed in a long, heavy dark green skirt, a pair of knee-length black boots, and a thick white sweater. Her hair was still a mass of wild curls that begged for him to twist his hands around the silky strands while he fucked her until he and his cat were totally sated. He watched as she pulled that damn huge bag that she carried everywhere over her shoulder.
"Well, are we being invaded or not?" Riley snapped, annoyed. "I haven't even had a chance to brush my damn teeth. This is really pissing me off," she said running the tip of her tongue along the edges of her smooth, pearly white teeth.
Vox muttered the entire rite of passage ceremony speech each Sarafin warrior was required to say before he finally gave up and decided he needed to get her out of here before he just said to hell with everything and fucked her. He turned with a sharp nod and strode out of the door at the same time as a blast flung the heavy metal door at the far end of the corridor open.
"Run!" Vox snarled as he felt the change coming over him. "Get to the bridge!"
Riley looked at the faces of the purple creatures swarming through the door, turned, and hauled ass for the bridge. She could hear the screams as Vox roared out and charged into the group. Riley decided this was definitely not the way she wanted to be woken up in the mornings. Her heart felt like it was about to explode as she raced through the corridors and up the short ladders until she was on the same level as the bridge. Fred was at the top of the ladder motioning for her to hurry.
"Vox!" Riley cried out as she let Cross reach down and pull her the rest of the way up. "Those purple people eaters are going to get him! Someone has to help him."
"Tor and Lodar are with him. Come up onto the bridge," Banu said gently as he wrapped his arm around Riley and pulled her toward the bridge. "The damn door won't close, so we are going to have to do what we can to keep them out."
"Do you have a gun?" Riley asked, looking with frightened eyes at the other men who were working frantically on a control panel.
"Here, you can hold this one," Banu said, pressing one into her hands. "Don't worry, it is not activated."
"Banu, I don't think giving Riley a laser pistol is a good idea," Fred's left head started to say before his voice faded at the glare she sent him. "Riley, you know you have a tendency to do things … " His right head decided he'd better not finish the sentence when she pointed the pistol at him and glared.
Vox, Tor, and Lodar tumbled through the open doorway, snapping and snarling. Tor and Lodar shifted back into their two-legged form, but Vox remained in his cat form. He had blood splattered all over his coat and along his muzzle. He turned dark eyes on Riley before he shifted.
He strode over to her, gripping her arm and seating her in front of the communications console. "You will sit there and not move! Do you understand?" he snarled.
"But what if-" Riley began, pushing her hair back behind her ear.
"No!" Vox snapped, turning to place his hands on each side of the chair, caging her in. She was forced to sit back when he leaned forward, menacingly. "You. Will. Not. Move!"
"Well, fine!" she snapped back in frustration. "I wouldn't want to have to save your sorry ass anyway!" She sniffed indignantly.
Vox leaned forward looking deeply into Riley's eyes. "I will not let them take you."
"Vox?" Titus asked as he stepped forward in concern.
"They want Riley. We heard several of the bastards stating she was to be captured unharmed," Tor answered for Vox who was still glaring at Riley.
"They have a buyer for her," Lodar said quietly moving to stand next to the door.
"That will explain why there are two of their damn ships," Adur said coolly. "They don't normally waste two ships on a freighter this old. Someone must have known Riley was on it."
Vox turned his head, finally breaking eye contact with the stubborn female glaring at him. "When I find out who, I am going to kill him."
Riley rolled her eyes and released a loud sigh. "Come on, guys. Get real! Who would want me? I'm about as pleasant as fingernails on a chalkboard."
Bob moved forward and looked over Vox's shoulder. "I would want you, Riley," he said quietly.
Riley looked up, startled, and blushed. A surprised smile curved her lips at her big green friend's words. In truth, it was the nicest thing anyone had ever said to her.
"You are such a sweetheart," Riley replied shyly. "Some Jell-O girl some day is going to be very, very lucky when you come calling."
"I don't believe this!" Vox exploded as a wave of jealousy swept through him. He looked back and forth in frustration between Riley's glowing face and Bob.
"Vox, I think you are going to have to wait to tear Bob apart," Tor said gruffly trying not to laugh at his friend and leader's unfortunate luck where Riley was concerned. "We have more company heading this way."
Chapter 11
Vox gave Riley one more warning glance before he pulled away. He had erupted into uncontrollable fury when he heard the command from the Marastin Dow leading the raiding group to get Riley. His comment that a king's ransom worth of credits was at stake told Vox that they would stop at nothing to get her. The damn purple species lived for murder, mayhem, and credits. The only difference between them and the Antrox was that the Marastin Dow enjoyed killing for the sake of killing. Their young were often encouraged to try to kill each other. Both species' philosophies were definitely survival of the fittest. It was amazing any of them survived long enough to grow into an adult. The adults who did survive were forced to commit to twenty years aboard raiding ships. Life aboard was not much better. If a position came open for advancement it was usually due to someone murdering their commanding officer.
He, Tor, and Lodar had taken out the first ten members of the boarding party before the others fell back to regroup. He knew a larger wave would be involved in the next onslaught. He rolled his shoulders, ignoring the sting from the numerous blasts from the lasers. In his cat form, his fur was very thick. It was almost impossible for a laser pistol to penetrate it. Laser swords were a different matter. He had received several deep cuts along his side as he sliced through the group that was surging onto the lower level.
"Whatever happens, do not let them get Riley," Vox snarled before he shifted back into his cat form.
Riley scooted back in her seat when the huge cat turned its tawny eyes to her. It trotted over to her, staring at her intently. If she didn't know better she would swear the damn thing was challenging her! The look in its beautiful eyes was one of amusement, desire, and possession.