*Um I have had some confused reviewers so I just wanted to get one thing straight. Maia is a human girl raised by xenomorphs. Garran is a male xenomorph born after Maia joined the hive. K?
Also, I know it's very interesting and (depending on what it's about) thrilling to have lemons in a story but romance is not all about sex and that's part of what this story is all about. If it were all physical than Garran would have killed Maia first chance he got. But he doesn't because of his mental control and relationships! Sometimes the love of the heart can be ever so much more exciting and rewarding than just physical love.
Okay; okay it might not seem like that but give it a chance. Please?*
Chapter 7- Together
At full speed Garran brought us into mother's chamber. I held on tight as he skid to a stop before her. Garran's tail whipped around as he kept his balance.
Mother glanced at us curiously as Garran knelt down to the floor so I could dismount easily. The cool ground made me miss Garran's warmth so as he stood back up I cuddled into him. He purred to me and wrapped one arm around my waste.
My children I assumed you would still be sleeping, Mother said although I bet she knew all too well why we were here and why we had arrived at such top speed. I smiled inwardly, Garran was really fast… I liked it… a lot.
Mother, began Garran, as the male it was customary for him to begin, in accordance to my hearts calling I have asked for Maia to become my life mate.
I see, she said, as if in deep thought. And you Maia? Are you fully willing to accept Garran as you own life mate?
"Yes, it is my heart's desire." I answered strongly.
After only a few short months of knowing each other and you both suddenly have a blossoming romance? How can you be sure this is true? How can you be certain that this is what you truly want?
This time it was I who spoke up.
"Mother, from the first moment of his life I have shared a connection with Garran. I'm drawn to him. And besides this deeper link he is everything I ever hoped for mother. Absolutely, without a doubt I love this xenomorph beside me, he is the most wonderful being I have ever seen. I didn't understand my feelings before although they were there none the less, just hidden behind confusion. But in the last few hours my eyes have been fully opened; along with my heart. I have never before been so sure."
Garran leaned his head into me and rubbed against my cheek softly with his forehead. I smiled warmly.
You are sure?
We both nodded our agreement.
Very well then, before I commence with my blessing and your bond is made official I must ask, is there anyone who objects to the pairing of these two before me?
I looked around the cavern to see the large crowd that was forming. I waited as nothing but silence filled the room. Within the crowd I spotted Emil. I held my breath.
He remained silent. He nodded his head in respect to us and I returned the gesture with a grateful sigh. I was glad Emil accepted my decision.
When I turned back to mother expectantly I heard a sound that I never thought I'd hear.
A roar came from within the crowd and Alcander's booming voice could be heard.
I disagree with this match and challenge Garran for the female!
No, I thought, oh please no!
Garran growled loudly in response. His head whipped around from where he was cuddling my cheek to the direction in which Alcander approached.
"Alcander, no" I said. He jerked his head to face me and growled a warning at me. At this Garran stepped defensively between Alcander and I and roared in forewarning.
So it must be, mother said solemnly. A duel between the praetorians for the humans love. The victor shall win her hand. I am sorry Maia but this is how our species works and you must deal with it.
"No, no, Garran!" I started to grab for him but two drones came over to me and lifted me into the air. They brought me over to mother who firmly clasped me tightly in her inner arms. I could not move within her embrace.
It will be alright, Maia, I will not lose and then we will be together, you and I. I'll not fail you my mate.
At his words I became calm. He knew exactly what to say. I was still freaking out inside but had managed to control my actions.
She is not your mate Garran, not if I have anything to do about it!
You would force her to witness the end of her beloved and then endure a lifetime of lies with you?
Alcander snarled even louder at Garran.
I remained perfectly still in mother's arms. A look of horror and dread was plastered on my face.
Garran loved me and he would fight for me until the end but Alcander was older, stronger, and better trained.
If it came down to it I was prepared to give myself to Alcander to spare Garran's life.
I could not stand to see him die!
Mother did not bother to separate them or explain any rules or boundaries before forcefully stating Begin!
The two praetorians who already had been close attacked one another. They threw themselves into the fight. All thoughts were lost as they let their animalistic nature consume them both.
Alcander jumped and came with an aerial attack on Garran, but Garran noticed and dropped to the ground to roll away. Alcander landed with an ear piercing clash as his talons met the hard floor.
Garran quickly stood up and rushed at Alcander and launched his tail forward aiming directly at Alcanders neck.
However, Alcander turned in time and threw up his own tail blade in defense and the two blades collided like two crossing swords.
Alcander forced Garran's tail blade aside and ran at him. He managed to get a hold on Garran and threw him into the wall. The chamber shook with the force of impact.
I gasped.
As Garran fell to the floor he shook his head trying to clear it and stood back up to once again face his superior.
Alcander leapt at him but Garran avoided the attack. As Alcander began to follow him Garran turned back to his opponent and dropped his tail bellow Alcander's attacks and wrapped it around Alcander's ankle. Garran then yanked it back up and forced Alcander to fall backwards onto the ground.
While Alcander moved to recover Garran swept in and sliced up Alcander's inner thigh with his claws. He then continued to sever the tendons at the knee.
Alcander howled in pain. I shuddered. As much as I wanted Garran to win I still didn't want Alcander to be hurt so badly.
In his rage Alcander swiftly hopped back onto his good leg and grabbed onto the stunned Garran. The two toppled to the floor.
Alcander used the same trick Garran had and as they fell he sliced away at Garran's chest. Garran managed to protect himself by crossing his arms over his chest but sustained multiple deep wounds.
Garran took the opportunity of Alcanders pure blind rage and as they landed on the floor, Garran's back to the ground and Alcander on top of him, brought his tail up and around Alcander's crest to position the blade firmly against Alcander's jugular.
Alcander went to force his secondary mouth out in into Garran's dangerously close head but Garran added pressure to his blade, making Alcander stop.
Alcander retracted his second mouth. He hissed, low and menacing, but the fight was over. Garran could kill Alcander right there but he knew Maia was watching and also knew that no matter how worthless Alcander had become in his eyes, Maia still would not want to see him unnecessarily harmed.
Garran lifted his head further so he was right in Alcander's face. He forced the blade slightly into Alcanders throat until small drops of green blood leaked from the edges but not hard enough to cause severe damage.
Do not ever threaten Maia or our love again. Do you understand me? Garran said with utter malice.
Alcander growled softly but answered an, I do, none the less.
Garran removed his blade with a flick of his tail and shoved Alcander off of him.
Blood dripped off his arms and other nicks that covered his body but he was not critically injured.
He stood and turned in a circle to find me.
I struggled against mothers grip and she eventually let me go.
I ran to him and spread my arms wide. He did the same and as I ran into him he embraced me ever so carefully. He used extreme restraint to ensure not one drop of his blood touched me through our embrace. He nuzzled me with his clean face up and down along my neck.
"Oh Garran!" I whispered into him. I felt his rumbled purr begin in his chest.
I pressed my lips up under his jaw where his neck began and the purr stuttered for a moment. I pulled back thinking it displeased him but after a moment's hesitation he said Do that again.
I smiled and kissed his neck one more. Then I rubbed the side of my face along his neck and pressed against him.
"My Garran, you did it!"
I promised you I would. I would not break a promise to my dearest beloved.
Heat rose to my cheeks as a deep blush set in. Thankfully I was still pressed against his neck so he couldn't see it.
"I was so worried" I said softly.
I'm alright, don't worry.
"Are you sure? Let me see." I pulled away from him and started to look him over but not a minute passed before he pulled me tight against him once more and said I'm fine.
"Don't you ever put me through that again do you understand me?"
He chuckled at me and replied With all due respect love, it was his fault. I smiled as his sense of humor returned.
Alcander stood shakily a few meters away from us. I small group of drones took him away to care for his wounds.
Mother once again spoke.
Garran is the victor! As such he gets to claim his rewards. Step forward both of you.
Together, Garran and I stood before her.
In accordance with the wishes of you both and with the agreement that Garran has proven himself worthy of a female, especially this female, I tie you both together in mind, body, and soul. That your hearts be united forever I grant you this gift.
She bowed her head as she meddled with our minds. I let her, she knew what she was doing.
There was a constricting pressure in my head as mother bestowed upon us her gift. For a moment I felt claustrophobic in my own head.
Suddenly, I was released and upon this exploding release I flowed into Garran as he flowed into me. Our minds became permanently locked and in tune. We were bound together. I felt him better and heard him better.
It wasn't a sudden drastic invasion of privacy but the link we now shared was stronger than the average hive connection.
We were officially together, a pair, a unity of hearts from two bodies.
We danced with each other in our minds before returning to ourselves. But even then there was his presence always in the very back on my mind. It was faint yet constantly there as I would constantly be with him.
I love you, I told him privately.
I love you, he told me back and I collapsed into him and pressed my soft pink lips against his moist, black outer ones.
It was weird for him to kiss, I know. But he let me kiss him and as he felt me pushed against him in such a manner he quickly came to enjoy it.
I moved my lips against his and he got the idea.
I lifted my arms to curl around his neck and he pulled me tight against him.
Our lips crashed against each other in an open display of passion in front of our sisters, our brothers, and our mother.
But in that moment all I could focus on was Garran as we moved together in rhythm and our lips danced together.
Finally, when I was desperate for air we parted ever so slightly and we both smiled in utter satisfaction and bliss.
Howls filled the cavern in my family's form of applause.
I kissed Garran quickly on the lips once more before we were engulfed in an overly excited crowd and celebrated our splendorous love for the rest of the evening.
…
It was hours later that Garran and I finally lay down on our nest.
Our nest, that sounded so great!
Garran's wounds had been cleaned and bandaged and were already beginning to heal nicely.
Garran had carried me away from mother's chambers as things began to quiet down. Now, I slid off his back and grasped his hand to pull him with me onto the pelts. He came willingly.
I watched him in awe as his majestic body moved so gracefully around me.
I sent him a mental nudge of how attractive he was to me and he purred loudly beside me.
"You are" I told him. "You skin is blacker than a starless night for the stars have all been stolen by your soul and there they burn ever so brightly and gloriously adding to its light. They shine through and illuminate you. You are my black angel. My dark knight. My midnight love. It's like you have put a spell on me and I am completely consumed by it. And I never want to be freed from this dark spell for here I am in heaven, in utter delight."
He reached for me and I went to him. He laid us down against the furs and curled around me as he had done the night before except that somehow even when I didn't think it was possible he pulled me even tighter against him.
His tail curled around me. I felt it snake up my lower back and as each boney ridge crossed me skin goose bumps dotted my skin.
He could cut me and dice me into tiny square pieces with his blade but instead he caressed me with it. He let the blunt side lead and used the flat side to touch my exposed skin. The blade reached all the way up to my neck and he curved the long spinal tail to run up over my head and then lower to the side and caress from my ear to my chin.
I couldn't help but sigh in contentment.
All too soon the blade disappeared as he moved his tail back to my waist. There he wound himself around me like a snake around its prey, but he was ever careful not to squeeze me too hard or create discomfort.
My beautiful Maia. You are my everything, dear one. The shining light to my day and the warmth to my night. You fill my soul with happiness and my days with a joy I never thought possible. Your simple presence excites me and I cannot contain the passion I feel for you. I love how your small body fits so perfectly against mine and how you and I can experience more than any couple before us. You are my human, my adoration, my mate. I will protect you from all threats and I will always be there to wipe away your tears. I know that during the ceremony you withheld the painful memories of you past from me. One day I hope that you can feel ready to confide in me. No matter how painful I want to know and to comfort you. When you are ready I will be here, always.
With his long alien fingers he stroked my hair.
I decided I would try something partially crazy, partially romance, and partially wired. I shifted a bit so my face was even with his.
I let my eye lids droop lower and parted my lips slightly. I was breathing harder but didn't care if Garran noticed. I brought my open mouth agonizingly close to his lips. I felt his want grow slightly within him. I drifted over his face but did not let my lips make contact.
Finally, when I was right in front of his mouth I whispered "open". It took him a minute to guess at what I meant but then he finally opened his mouth. There were so many sharp teeth that could rip me to shreds but they didn't make me nervous.
Instead I inched closer and brought my face passed the razor sharp teeth.
Then, when I finally reached it and pressed my warm lips against his inner mouth in perhaps one of the most intimate kisses imaginable.
A xenomorph inner mouth it both a deadly weapon and a fragile organ. With it they can kill prey or enemies, cut meat, and also use it as a sort of sensory organ to test the air for different elements. But if it is damaged then acid blood pours into their mouth and they have no way of eating.
Garran was tense around me but as he felt me he relaxed almost instantly.
In letting me kiss him like this he presented me with utter trust. By carefully displaying devotion I showed that not only did I respect that trust but put myself in danger to show him how much he meant to me.
Considering he could also chomp down and kill me I was also giving him an enormous amount of trust.
I pulled my face back very carefully and exited Garran's mouth completely. His jaw closed slightly behind me.
Then he did what I had not expected. He extended his inner mouth for me and beckoned me to kiss him again. So I did.
Very gently I kissed the smaller jaw and the slimy teach. I pressed my lips against the colder flesh and enjoyed the truly intimate moment.
He's actually letting me do this! I thought.
Then, ever so softly he began to respond to my kiss. As my lips moved so did his secondary mouth.
Soon we were once again entangles romantically.
… (one month later)
My eyes fluttered open slowly. I yawned and then settled down once again in the soft furs. A low chuckle could be heard from beside me.
Good morning beautiful. Garran said. His voice was deeper than before. In xenomorph years he was older than me now and a full grown adult. His voice now rang inside my head. It was deep and strong and manly. It soothed my soul.
I moaned sleepily in response. Garran once again chuckled at me.
Good morning I said. Did you sleep well?
Yes I did thank you, but only because I held you within my arms. His arms were still wrapped around me and my body was pressed firmly against his chest. I giggled.
Garran extended his inner mouth and lightly kissed the top of my head. I purred.
I tilted my head up before he could pull away and kissed him back. He moaned against me.
We should go or they will wonder where we are, I told him. A large group of us were going hunting today to stock up before a big storm that was coming.
Let them, he replied. He leaned more into me and grasped me tighter. The long appendages of his fingers wrapped around me and in doing so the tips of his fingers brushed over my breasts. I gasped against his mouth and his outer lips smiled.
He grabbed me tighter and I moaned and leaned against him.
Ya, we are mates but we haven't actually gotten THAT far yet. He hadn't touched me like this before.
Maia, he whispered. He leaned me back so I was on my back against the nest and Garran lowered himself on top of me. He wrapped his tail around me so that it came up and around my head. I rolled my head to the side so I cuddled against it. But in doing this I broke our kiss and Garran didn't like that.
He growled and snapped his secondary jaws loudly.
I grinned as I turned back to him.
Uh oh, someone's upset, I teased.
Please! He begged. His secondary jaws extended all the way and they were meer inches from my lips. He was begging me.
I avoided his mouth and rubbed my cheek against the tendons that stretched tight to move his outer mouth.
He growled and moaned… at the same time. He bumped his head against mine so I was partially pushed away but rebounded from the force and turned to face him.
Be nice, I scolded. His head drooped and he gave a small wine. I cupped his face in my hands.
Come here. He complied as I brought him to me and placed a gentle kiss to his revealed teeth and flesh. He purred happily.
Eventually I pulled away slightly and this time he pulled his jaw back into his outer mouth. I quickly pecked his closing lips.
We really need to get going I said logically. Garran growled at the idea. So I pressed my chest to his and whispered out loud "Carry me". It was slightly seductive but it did the trick. Not a second later Garran was standing straight and walking off our nest with me settled comfortably, straddling his spine. He purred and chest vibrated beneath me.
As Garran steadily ran through the hive home I reflected on the past month.
Although besides the ceremony nothing drastic had occurred, my whole world had changed. I no longer went to bed or woke up alone. I was cuddled and loved. I hardly stopped smiling.
Garran made me so happy. We laughed together constantly and challenged each other intellectually.
We quickly reached an exit where a small group of xenomorphs had gathered.
There you two are! Elvina shouted.
Took you long enough! Emil complained. He had his arm wrapped around a female xenomorph beside him. Her name was Carina. She was a shy alien but once she opened up to you she was very funny and sweet. Carina had accidentally spilled the guts of a cow all over Emil as he hurried past her in the halls. That's how they met and it was love at first sight. They had been officially together for a week but as with most xenomorph couples they had grown very close very fast. I was so happy for him.
Well now that they are finally here can we get going? Asked a nearby drone. His name was Altair. The rest of the group consisted of Placidia, Galen, Laiken, Ulmer, Valencia, and Ronni. We were a close group of friends. This hunting trip would be, I guess, the equivalent of a human night at the movies, a chance to hang out.
Yup, let's go. I said with a smile. We raced off down towards the forest. Garran carried me and so we moved swiftly and quietly. This was awesome.
We entered the forest and the black forms of my friends vanished beneath the under growth. Garran slowed and I leapt of silently. Garran crouched into a hunting stance and I crawled low to the ground next to him. Our group split up but Garran and I remained together. Soon we found a herd of deer.
Maia, Garran said.
Yes, Garran, let's. I replied. We broke apart and moved in opposite directions to surround the deer. I could see the scene before me but also saw what Garran saw in that moment. We hunted in perfect unison.
In the same instant, at an unspoken signal, we lunged at the group.
With my knives blazing I sliced at the knees. Garran cut deeply with his tail blade and tore with his teeth. When the group had all fled or were wounded our frenzy stopped. I bent down to strike swiftly and end the suffering of my targets.
When I was finished I looked up at Garran. He was standing above his kills. Their blood dripped from his teeth.
I opened my arms and beckoned to him. He came forward and I hugged his crest. I stroked him affectionately.
Come here, let me see. I told him. He lifted his face so it was level with my own. I grabbed at a bit of extra pelt from around my waist and brought it up to dab at his mouth. I wiped away the moist blood.
Then, when I finished I kissed him quickly.
There, much better, I said with a smirk.
My dearest. I knew how much my acceptance meant to him. He still worried on occasion that he would scare me and I admit if he were anyone but Garran I would have been scared, but not with him. Garran had my complete trust and adulation.
Without another glance Garran whisked me onto his back once more. I giggled at his speed.
One step at a time Garran moved from body to body and easily lifted the still forms into his arms.
"I can walk myself and even carry some if it is too much Garran. It is a large load to carry, myself included. "
No, Maia, I am perfectly fine, don't worry. Please, don't leave me.
I rubbed circles into his skeleton back. "Never", I told him firmly. As long as he wanted me I would always desire him and keep him close.
With that we rejoined the others and together returned successfully to the rest of our family.
*Sorry for taking so long to post but there you have it. How's a little action for ya? Lol I will tell you that your reviews influence me to keep going and to be as fast as possible so as always please REVIEW!*