Cravr (The Mating Games Book 8) Read online

  “Rocket fuel again?” She asked as she wrinkled up her nose and breathed in deeply.

  Cravr and Korvix chuckled. “No, Annie. They probably just dropped a match.”

  “Oh.” She flushed in embarrassment. Annie knew she was good at the office tasks, but it seemed field work wasn’t something she had an affinity for.

  “Few people would know that, don’t feel bad.” Cravr observed. “Rocket fuel is hard to get and dangerous to use. I think they would save it for equipment which is harder to damage.”

  “That makes sense.” Annie said and shot him a smile. It made her forget they had laughed at her. The next piece of equipment they looked at, had once been a tractor, not much different than the one she had used on the farm. It was melted into a pile of unrecognizable metal, completely useless for any purpose except recycling.

  Annie had heard about sabotage on Oison, but she thought they had caught the perpetrators. Looked like they’d missed one, or there was someone new around. The original saboteurs had worked for a company on Earth that bought unprocessed products here, processed them, and then sold them for unbelievable profits. They were the ones that would benefit from these problems on Oison.

  “Do you think it is the same group as before?” She asked looking at Cravr.

  “Without a doubt.” Cravr and Korvix answered together.

  “We will get them soon. They left their scent everywhere.” Korvix explained.

  “You have bloodhounds?” She asked.

  “Something like that.” Cravr ansered.

  Funny, she’d not see anything like dogs except the giant purple wolf that belonged to Razar or as many pet parents would say, Razar and his family belonged to him. “Will I get a chance to see one of them?”

  “Maybe.” Crave said noncommittedly.

  Chapter 2

  Mating Hell

  Cravr answered her enthusiastic questions the best he could. She sucked up knowledge like a sea sponge, she was bright and curious. Jorgr had made a terrible decision about putting her here before she mated. The thought of this lovely woman with another made his chest hurt. His inner demon roared wishing to claim her. Was there enough time to accomplish that before the mating games?

  He shot a look at the lovely red head that sat in the passenger seat and tried not to drool. Korvix sat in the back waiting to be dropped off at his office. Cravr had a feeling he would be coming back here soon and not for anything good. The demon had felt unfriendly eyes on him as he planted his devices. It had entered his head for a moment to shift and go hunting, but he was sure his shifted state would terrify Annie. That was simply not acceptable whether she was his future mate or not. His demon howled to be free, but Cravr locked him down. It wasn’t easy dealing with a split personality.

  “Cravr?” Annie was speaking softly.

  “Hmm.”

  “How could they get here? Don’t all visitors go through the space station? That means they are either registered guests or they were dropped by an unauthorized space ship.” Annie suggested.

  That was something to think about. The tracking satellites and the land based tracking radar were a place where his authority and Jorgr’s crossed. Both of them had personnel at the bases and both paid an equal share to upkeep and support those services. It was time for him to get something back for his money. “I think you might be on to something.” He sent her a big smile, and he couldn’t help but feel good, about the smile he got received in return.

  They dropped off Korvix and headed back to their own community. Cravr knew they had a lot of work ahead of them organizing things, so females like Annie would feel comfortable here. Most of the communities had no names, they were new, having just sprung up when the Mazlans that were incarcerated, were finally released. Hover cars or shuttles were the transportation they used, so there were no real roads, and therefore no road maps to follow. GPS was used by all, there was no choice.

  Every citizen and visitor was cataloged and their home as well as their place of work documented. Those with chips could be located in an emergency and every person on Oison who worked was issued a com to carry with them. Annie would get hers once they made it back to the office. Their system was different from that of any other planet, but it worked for them. It was much too soon when their building came into view. Even though they hadn’t talked much, he felt comfortable in her presence.

  “It would seem we’ve arrived.” Cravr said while he berated himself for saying the obvious. He wanted to say something brilliant that would make her admire his intelligence. It hadn’t worked out.

  “I believe you are correct.” Annie replied with humor evident in her words.

  Great, now she was laughing at him. Pulling into his parking spot, as soon as he was parked he hurried around to help her out. The electricity hummed between them, no longer startling or painful. Her scent washed over him, sweet and irresistible. What the hell was he going to do?

  “Let’s go back to the office so I can assign you a com.” Hiding behind his professional façade was all he knew to do. Something was happening between him and this female, and Cravr didn’t know how to stop it. He didn’t know if, he wanted to stop it, either.

  They went into the building, Cravr held the door open so Annie could walk in front of him. Her scent continued to slap him in the face making his demon roar. They went to his office and he opened the storage room to pull out the com, but when he turned, he discovered she’d followed him in. A male could only resist so long.

  “You shouldn’t have come in here.” His voice was rough and low from his demon exerting some control.

  Her eyes widened in shock. “What do you mean?” She asked but he was past the point of talking. Stepping up to her, he grabbed her and pushed her against the wall, careful not to hurt her. Caging her in with his body, he felt her warmth and her sweet scent hit him.

  Cravr fought to control his demon but the bastard only wanted one thing- her. A growl rumbled out of his mouth, just before he lowered his lips to hers, and devoured her. May the gods help him, once he tasted her sweet lips, he was lost. His tongue pressed against the seam of her lips until they opened granting him access. Impaling her mouth with his tongue, he explored every nook and cranny, until he’d touched every part.

  His hands weren’t idle as his tongue explored, no, they explored her delightful curves. Her softness thrilled him, smoothing his hard edges and cushioning him as he ground against her. Annie was anything but unresponsive, she was encouraging him with her moans and light touches. The primitive being inside had wrested away control for now, and he loved it. This female was his other half, the only one he wanted. Unsure how she would respond if he showed her his demon, he kept his shift under control for now.

  If she looked into his eyes, she would know he was different, because right now, his demon was looking out. Would his demon eyes scare her or would she accept him as just one more part of the male he was? Fear of rejection prevented him from trying to find out. In his heated state, with the demon exerting control, he was about to take her anyway when his com buzzed.

  Chapter 3

  What Now?

  Annie had just got home after picking up her girls before she dropped onto the couch with a plop. It still hadn’t fully sank in that she’d been kissing her boss in the supply closet. Oh, dear God! She was officially a slut. Now she had become that woman that seduces the boss and gets all the job perks. Well, if there were any job perks that was yet to be determined. What had she been thinking following him in there? Everyone that has ever worked in an office knows to stay out of closets.

  Her kids were in their room playing and she’d put supper on before leaving for work, so she could sit here and relax, maybe drink a glass of red wine and figure out what the hell had happened. One minute Cravr was the perfect gentleman, polite, but cool and distant, then he was a horny male beast. He’d devoured her and she’d let him, actually once her shock wore off, she’d given as good as she got. It had only ignited his passion on a wh
ole new level.

  Annie went to the wine cooler snagging a bottle of sweet wine. Nothing like drinking her dessert and forgetting about the meal. Maybe she would be able to relax by bedtime, because that was the only way she would get to sleep. She poured a big glass full and carried it with her to the couch. It would take little to get to her, she rarely drank. Sipping her wine, she closed her eyes and relived the stolen moments in the closet. How pathetic that those were the highlight of her sex life.

  Sure, she’d had sex a few times, her kids were proof of that, but she’d never come as close to climaxing as she had with Cravr. Earthmen sucked as lovers, at least in modern times. Annie had read books that hinted at something different, in the past, when women hadn’t outnumbered men the way they did now. Were all Mazlan males so talented where sex was concerned or was it because she wanted Cravr more than anyone she’d ever met?

  Her com rang. Where the hell had she put it? Befuddled even from such a small amount of wine, she looked around, until she found it in the kitchen, where she’d poured her wine. It was no longer ringing, problem solved. Even as she thought that, the crazy thing began to ring again. Looking at the screen she saw it was Georgie. Anyone else, she might have ignored, but not Georgie.

  Pushing the button she assumed would answer the call, she said, “Hello?”

  “Annie? It’s me. I wanted to know how your first day went. Did you enjoy it? Did anything exciting happen?”

  Annie thought about saying it almost ended with a bang when your brother in law stuck his tongue down my mouth. Of course she didn’t say that. “It was nice. We worked in the office then went in the field to investigate a case.”

  “I’m jealous. It sounds like you got to play detective.”

  More like office slut. “Yeah, it was great. Cravr took us to the restaurant for lunch.”

  “I’ve heard about it, but Jorgr hasn’t taken me yet.”

  “Give him time. This is only our second day here. That male will spoil you rotten once he has a chance.”

  “You’re right. I just wish…. Have you met many people?”

  By people, Georgie meant males. She knew Georgie just wished she could find a good male and be happy. ”Not many, we just got here, Sis. Give us some time to settle in.”

  “I’m sorry. You know I love you, right?”

  “Yes, I know. It’s alright, you’ve never had any patience, and I don’t expect it to start now.”

  After saying goodbye, the line went dead. Annie went into the kitchen to grab another glass full of wine. Hers must have spilled or something since it was empty. Once she finished it off, she made sure her girls had supper, cleaned up the kitchen, and fell into bed forgetting to set the alarm. When she woke, it was obviously morning and the achy feel was the result of imbibing a bit too much last night. When she looked at the clock, it was clear she was running late. The girls were already awake, dressed, and ready to go. She was such a horrible mom! Or maybe not since she was raising such independent capable daughters. That was a better way to look at things.

  Rushing to get them to the daycare center, she dropped them off quickly before rushing away. Second day at work and already late. She checked the time as she pulled into the parking area. All she could do was shake her head at herself as she arrived at Cravr’s office fifteen minutes after starting time. It was a relief that he wasn’t there. At least it was at first, before she began to worry. What if he’d come and already left to do field work?

  Her com buzzed. It was Georgie. “What’s up, Sis?”

  “I’m sorry to call you at work, but Mimi didn’t answer and I have to talk to someone.”

  Annie understood, she tried Mimi first because she didn’t have a job yet. “What’s going on? You and Mr. Sexy have a fight?”

  “No, the private investigator found Jenny.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I know you got attached to the little minxes.”

  “They aren’t going anywhere. Jenny doesn’t want them back.”

  Now it was clear that Jenny had dumped the girls, Bonnie and Lizzie, with no intention of ever going back. Annie could never do that, but if she thought about it fairly, Jenny had given her girls a better future by letting them go. “She’s doing it for them?”

  “And for herself. She’s pregnant again and she didn’t tell him about her girls. He’s letting her live with him until the baby is born. If it’s a girl, she’ll be out on the street again. I hope she knows what she’s doing.”

  “If that happens, will she want the girls back?”

  “She filled out all the paperwork, they are completely ours.”

  “It’s a sad way to grow a family, but they are better off with you and Jorgr. You aren’t responsible for the decisions Jenny made. You shouldn’t feel bad about it.”

  “It’s not that, I feel bad for the girls. Someday they will ask, they’ll want to know if they have siblings and why their mom left them.”

  “All you can say is she did it for them, so they would have a life away from Earth. As far as siblings, have the investigator check on her yearly so you’ll be able to answer that question. Those girls already love you two, nothing will change that.”

  Annie could hear sniffles. Georgie was not the sensitive one. It seemed having a family of her own changed everything. “I hope you’re right.”

  “I know I’m right.” They said their goodbyes and hung up seconds before Cravr came in.

  “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long?”

  “No, I was just talking to Georgie while I waited.”

  “You’ve heard then? It’s a mixed blessing, the girls will have a much better life now.”

  “That’s what I told Georgie. I don’t know what to think of Jenny now. I felt sorry for her before.”

  “The girls were well taken care off. I’ve no doubt she loved them, but was overwhelmed. Don’t judge her too harshly, life on your planet for the females is generally harsh.”

  Annie knew he was right. It was just a part of her was horrified, that any mother was in a position that they felt they had no other choice, but to give up their children. She knew she’d been lucky that their mother had left them a farm and that Georgie had given her and Mimi support. What would she have done otherwise? It was good she would never know. Nodding, she looked away embarrassed that she had judged harshly.

  “We have all the coordinates of ships and blips that showed on radar to go chase down.”

  “Blips?” Annie asked.

  “Even the best shielded ship will usually show up as an anomaly once or twice when they land. They pulled all the tracking for two weeks before the sabotage began. It is my hope we will find them and take them out.” Cravr explained. “Are you ready?”

  Excitement rushed through her. She was being invited on a bust. The criminals would go down and while she might not be much help, she would be able to watch. It surprised her as protective as Mazlans were of females that he was letting her come along. That just cemented her suspicion that he had no interest in mating her. It made her wonder what the storeroom incident was all about. Annie supposed it was just adrenaline looking for a way to be used up.

  The days were counting down to the day Cravr would be mated and if she was smart, she would keep things professional. No more closets, and no more kissing the hot male.

  Chapter 4

  Trespassers

  Mazlans had many words that described those on their planet illegally, but trespassers was the term used most commonly. These particular trespassers were here for nefarious and destructive reasons. Cravr needed to catch them and then it was completely at his discretion how they were punished. He was the police, the judge, and if need be, the executioner. He would admit that he was glad it hadn’t been needed to date. Killing was something he took seriously, because life was precious.

  Cravr was late to work and had kept Annie waiting, because he’d stopped at his parent’s house to discuss the situation with Annie, the saboteurs, and some other smaller issues. His father
had been displeased, that was no surprise.

  “Can none of my sons, but the eldest, follow proper customs?” Davar, his dad, had growled.

  “Do we not want our sons to be happy? It’s a long life if they live it in misery.” Gildra, his mom, added mildly. He could always count on her to see his side.

  “Yes, but can’t they be happy with the mates the gods choose for them?” Davar asked.

  “They were brought together for a reason.” Gildra observed.

  “Yes, because Jorgr couldn’t follow customs either.” Davar pointed out.

  “Times have changed, we must change with them. Are you so sure this woman isn’t meant for him? What if he goes to the hunt and comes back empty handed?” Gildra wondered.

  “That would be a first.” Davar pounced verbally, to make his point.

  “We have seen many firsts since we’ve been freed.” Gildra offered. It was true too. Cravr had seen many changes, most of them positive.

  “Convince her to go with you to the Temple. Get your union blessed, otherwise, in less than two weeks, you hunt.” Davar said and it was clear his opinion was final.

  Lista had a saying that Cravr should have followed. Something about forgiveness rather than permission. Now that it was too late, he fully understood what she meant. There was still hope, but only if he could convince Annie to accompany him to the Temple. Earth females were different, which made him unsure if she burned like he did when they were together.

  “Did you hear from Jorg yet?” His mother asked.

  “You mean about the girls and Jenny? Yes, Jorg told me.”

  “Our family is growing now that girls are now theirs permanently.” She observed with satisfaction.