Page 19 of The Arabis Triad

“They are two valleys over. I sent out a drone to see exactly what to expect. Their craft is in several pieces scattered throughout the fauna. It looks as though it will never fly again,” Coltan said,

“What’s the current condition of our craft? Can we get to them?” If they could fly in, they could beat them with a surprise attack and then retreat far away to the other side of the planet, wait for Trum and their entourage, and enjoy their mate.

“Booster’s shot, besides the gash in the fuselage.”

“Drumasturd,” Paxt said. Without the boosters, there would be no lift off, even if they could survive the vacuum of space with a great big rip in the hull in the first place.

All told, they were grounded until Trum came. The food prep dinged, so Paxt fetched his meal and sat at the table with his brothers.

“We have a plan.” Coltan set aside his empty plate. “Once our mate is settled a little more, we leave her here protected in the craft and make our way to the scaled ones’ craft. We are stronger than they are and we will win a surprise attack. From there, we retrieve the crystal after we kill every last one of them for doing what they did to Evelyn.”

Paxt grunted as he ate. It was a good plan. Especially the killing part. He would enjoy that. It had the added benefit that they could be sure they would be safe while they were stuck on this planet. No more scaled ones. No more threat. He couldn’t wait to work out some anger.

A pathetic-sounding whimper crept into the room. The three of them shared a glance and then bolted from the meal area, their food immediately forgotten. Coltan was the first to barge into Paxt’s sleeping room.

Evelyn was twisted in the blanket, her arms and legs weakly flailing. The blanket had dropped away, revealing a pert, pink-tipped nipple. A sheen of perspiration coated her skin. She tossed her head from side to side as she emitted another gut-wrenching moan, clutched in a nightmare only she could see.

Coltan lay beside her and gathered her against him. A frown marred her brow as she thrashed about, baring more of her upper body. Coltan drew the blanket up, and his finger brushed her nipple. She stopped moving, uttering a deep sigh before the frown returned.

“Touch her nipple again, Coltan,” Ashir said. “I think it calmed her.”

Coltan hesitated, before dipping his hand below the blanket and grazing her nipple with his palm. Paxt’s cock twitched in his still-damp pants. He shoved the feeling aside. Now was definitely not the time to be aroused. Not when their mate suffered. True to his word, Evelyn stilled, turning her upper body into Coltan’s touch.

“I don’t want to touch her like this. Not when she’s asleep,” Coltan said.

“She’s not asleep anymore,” Paxt said as Evelyn’s blue eyes blinked open, glazed and hazy from sleep.

Her gaze locked to Coltan’s as he stroked her breast once more. She let out a throaty sigh that bypassed Paxt’s resolution and went straight to his cock.

“Coltan, gently massage her breast,” Paxt said.

The blanket over Coltan’s hand moved as he did as he was asked.

“Do you like that, mate? Does it help keep the nightmares away?” Coltan asked softly.

She made a little sound almost as though she was trying to deny what her body needed, but she arched her back, her gaze trained on Coltan. Her tiny breasts were outlined beneath the blanket, her erect nipples visible beneath the material. Ashir sat on the edge of the bed, watching Coltan satisfy their mate.

“Do you like Coltan touching you, mate? Do you like how his hand feels on your breast?” Ashir asked.

Paxt’s body trembled with restrained tension. Like his brother, he wanted to throw himself at their mate’s feet, but also knew it would be counter-productive.

Evelyn’s gaze turned to Ashir and instead of fear lacing her eyes, they were drowsy and accepting. Her tongue darted out to lap her bottom lip, leaving it dewy and wet.

“May I have the pleasure of touching you also, mate?’ Ashir asked.

Paxt held his breath as they waited for an answer. She nodded, just once, a small gesture, but one that told of a rising trust. Ashir slipped the blanket from her body, unveiling her like the gift she was.

Paxt kept his attention locked to her face, watching for any sign of distress. The blanket fluttered over her body, revealing her thin torso. The breath left Ashir’s lungs in a whoosh as all of them started at her beauty.

Ashir slowly reached to her, swallowing her petite breast with his large hand. He flattened his palm and rubbed the little rigid peak, moving in gentle tiny circles.

“She responds beautifully when you caress her nipple. Like this.” Coltan pinched a nipple between his thumb and forefinger, rolling it between his fingertips.

She uttered an adorable little sound and arched her back. Again, just a little movement, but one that told Paxt she was enjoying herself. He followed the tantalizing pull toward them—his family—and settled on the end of the bed.

Her blue eyes locked onto him. He brushed his hand over her blanket-covered shin. “Is Coltan right? Do you like what they are doing to you, mate? Feeling your tight little nipples, rolling them between their fingers? Both of their hands on you at the same time?”

She dragged in a shaky little breath. It seemed their mate was indeed enjoying herself, yet didn’t want to let on. Maybe he needed to spike her interest.

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