Free Initiation (Xylon Warriors 1) by Ruth D. Kerce Page A

definitely more at ease, but still, he wanted details. She apparently intended to offer none. “So, you’re ready to be initiated then?” he asked in a sharper tone than intended.
    Her spine stiffened. “I didn’t say that.”
    “Then what are you saying?” He knew he sounded impatient. He couldn’t control it. He needed her. Now. He saw the suppressed passion in her, and wanted to set it loose. Her body, curvy in all the right places, turned him hard as steel. Her full mouth called to his baser instincts, urging him to take that mouth with his, then in return have her taste his body, his cock, drawing deep until he filled her with his essence. He practically groaned at the thought.
    Above it all—even the sexual element—Alexa was a strong woman. He needed a strong woman in his life. And they all needed her to continue the species. Now more than ever.
    She tilted her head and hugged her middle tighter. “What’s a super-breeder?”
    She was stalling again, dragging this out, instead of addressing the issue at hand. Certainly, she wouldn’t refuse the Initiation, knowing how much her participation meant to Xylon. And if she did intend to refuse, or refuse him , he wished she’d just do so. Then he would know where they stood. “A super breeder means that you can get with child easily and will bear more than one with each birth.” He tried to make his explanation sound as casual as possible. He didn’t want his growing feelings of urgency, possessiveness, and lust to cause her fear to re-surface.
    “A regular baby-making machine, huh?”
    He raised an eyebrow at her irritated tone.
    “Well, what do you expect, Braden?” She relaxed her arms to her sides. “A bunch of strangers show up and tell me I need to let some man do all sorts of sexual things to me. That I’m supposed to pop out a herd of children. And if I refuse, life on your world, and possibly mine, changes forever.”
    “It’s not that simplistic. You’ll be claiming your heritage, your place in our society. It’s a great honor. And, yes, you’ll be saving a way of life at the same time.”
    “Whether I want to or not.”
    “I already told you that you wouldn’t be forced.” If their system entry point wasn’t approaching, and if they had more reserve fuel, they could remain on Earth longer and take plenty of time to acclimate her to their ways. Alexa had a more pivotal role than most breeders, which made her submission a must. Somehow, he had to convince her.
    “Not physically forced maybe. But mentally I feel like I have no choice. How can I really refuse? If I do, then I find out everything I’ve been told is true, and worlds end up destroyed, I’d have to wonder whether I was at least part of the reason it happened.”
    Braden shrugged. “Then agree, and you won’t have to wonder. I can’t change the situation, Alexa. It is what it is. I’ve done all I can to make it easier for you.”
    Alexa didn’t respond. She simply stared at him.
    He’d try another avenue. “What do you want? Kam and Leila must have calmed you enough to get you this far. What can I do to get you the rest of the way?”
    “To give my body to a stranger? Allow him, you, to do things to me that I’ve never allowed another man to do. To agree to bear children I’m not even sure I want.”
    “I’m sorry. That’s the way it is. If it makes you feel any better, the Initiation won’t get you pregnant. That doesn’t come until later. You’ll have time to adjust.” Agony at the possibility shot through him, but he had to ask. “Would you rather Kam initiate you?”
    “No!”
    Her immediate response, and wide-eyed look, took him aback. She almost seemed panicked. “Okay,” he answered, slowly drawing out the word. “Then what’s holding you back? I won’t hurt you. And I’ll make it as enjoyable for you as I can.”
    Alexa laughed, but her voice held little humor. “Yeah. That’s what men always say when it comes to sex, isn’t it?”
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