Rye (Joyadan Mates Book 1) Read online

  Rye

  Sadie Carter

  Copyright

  Sadie Carter

  Rye

  © 2016, Sadie Carter

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author / publisher.

  This story contains explicit sex scenes.

  Cover Design: No Sweat Graphics

  Editor: Christie Giraud: EbookEditingPro

  Proofreading: Ave’s Editing

  Chapter One

  Pushing her thighs apart, Rye settled between them. Her small whimpers filled him with desire as he ran his hands over her curves. As he placed kisses across her stomach, he felt her tremble with need. Moving up her body, he drew each nipple into his mouth, tonguing them delicately.

  Sweet. Sexy. Sin.

  His own need became so overwhelming it almost stole his breath. Finally, he reached her mouth. She parted her lips and…

  Licked him.

  Rye reared back, opening his eyes as the scent of rotting garbage choked him. Gagging, he quickly sat, holding his hand over his nose as he glared at the smiling beast lying on the bed beside him.

  “Goddamn it, Norman.”

  As he climbed out of bed, Norman yawned, his breath so foul Rye wondered if something had crawled into his mouth and died there.

  “What are you doing here?”

  Norman was his sister’s dog. Except technically he wasn’t actually a dog. Willa’s mate, Darac, thought he’d bought Willa a dog, but Norman looked more like a goat crossed with, well, crossed with something. Two horns twisted up from his head and instead of barking he sort of squealed. Woolly and clumsy, he was fond of eating garbage and chasing his tail.

  Norman laid his head on the bed, staring up at him with big eyes. Rye sighed. There was no point getting angry with Norman just because he’d interrupted his dream.

  His very sexy dream.

  Reaching down, Rye grabbed his cock. It was hard as a rock, his balls tight with need. He could shower, take care of his problem, except, no matter how often he jacked off, he still had the same damn sexy dream every night.

  About her.

  Moving into the bathroom, he ran some cold water, splashing it on his face.

  Get yourself together, man.

  Looking into the mirror, he glared at the tired man staring back at him. Nights of being plagued by dreams about her were starting to affect him. He knew he was grumpier than usual; he saw the wary looks people gave him, the way they moved out of his way to avoid him. He never had much patience at the best of times, but now he felt like a bomb about to detonate.

  This couldn’t continue.

  Why her? Why the fuck am I dreaming about her?

  He dried off his face. Moving back into the bedroom, he pulled some pants on. Then he grabbed a light t-shirt.

  “Come on, Norman. Let’s go.”

  Norman followed him down the stairs. Rye shook his head as he reached the bottom. An elephant would make less noise. With a squeal, Norman slipped down the last few steps, skidding along the tiled floor towards the front door. Rye jumped ahead, opening the door, and Norman tumbled out in a jumble of legs and fur. He stood and shook himself then gave Rye a goofy grin.

  It was early in the morning, and Zerconia’s two suns were just starting to rise. This was his favorite time of day when it was a bit cooler, and there were few people about.

  Norman followed him towards Willa’s house. Most of the humans who lived on Zerconia were housed in one area. Willa and Darac, who was a Zerconian Warrior, had chosen to live here rather than in the house Darac lived in before mating Willa.

  As Rye turned the corner towards their house, he stopped for a moment to take in the view. Zerconia was a beautiful planet. The city was built close to the sea to take advantage of any breeze. It wasn’t a dry heat like Joyadan, where he had grown up. That had been a barren, dry planet.

  Even though it had been his home for thirty-four years, he hadn’t been sad to say goodbye. When his parents died, he’d found himself responsible not just for his younger siblings, but his whole village as well. It had been a hell of a lot for a seventeen-year-old to take on, and Rye knew he’d made a lot of mistakes along the way. But he’d done what he could, and his brothers and sister were still alive and well and still speaking to him. All except one. Lochlan had been missing four years now, and there wasn’t a day that went by that Rye didn’t think about him. And feel guilty about the way things had ended between them.

  Norman let out a small squeal. What now? Rye immediately took a calming breath. Snapping at Norman wouldn’t help his current state. He needed to get more sleep or people would start running when they saw him coming and snatch their children out of his path. Zoey, the Empress of Zerconia, had called him Shrek the other day. He’d looked up the term, only to find an ugly green ogre looking back at him.

  Yeah, he had to get control of himself. It wasn’t all due to a lack of sleep, either. It was her. She had gotten under his skin, and he couldn’t free himself.

  Damn it. He didn’t even like her. He certainly didn’t trust her.

  “I am fucked,” he muttered, searching for Norman. There he was, climbing the rocks at the edge of the cliff.

  “Norman! Get back here!” If he let something happen to the idiot mutt, Willa would kill him. Rye climbed the rocks. “Norman!”

  As he made it to the top of the pile of rocks, movement from below caught his attention. What was that? It looked like…shit! Someone was down there, lying on a large, flat rock about twenty feet below. He glanced around, trying to find a way down when Norman took off down the cliff.

  “Stupid dog can’t even navigate stairs without tripping over his own feet. How is going to make it down there in one piece?” Rye muttered as he stumbled his way down, half-slipping. He jumped the last few feet, landing on the flat rock with a thump.

  “Help!” A woman’s voice. “I’ve hurt my leg.”

  “Coming,” he snapped back. What the hell did she think he was doing? Stopping for a cup of tea? He moved forward, coming to a stop as he got a good look at the woman lying on the rock.

  “You,” Elika snarled. “Out of everyone it had to be you. Do you hate me?”

  “What?” he asked, startled. “No.” He didn’t hate her. She annoyed him, pissed him off. He didn’t trust her. But hate her? Part of him wished he did. Then maybe he wouldn’t be plagued with dreams of her every night.

  “Not you,” she replied grumpily. “Him.” She turned to glare at Norman. “You could have chosen anyone, why’d you go to him?”

  Rye gaped down at her in shock. “You can talk to him?”

  “I am speaking to him now, am I not?” she asked with a confused look.

  “No, I mean. Can you talk to him? Do you know what he’s thinking?”

  She blew out a deep breath. “Of course, shall I tell you what he’s thinking right now?”

  Rye stared down at Norman who was currently licking his balls. “Umm.”

  “He is thinking how gullible you must be to believe I can speak to an animal.”

  Her words penetrated, and he scowled at her, his temper rising. See, this is why he didn’t trust witches. Egotistical, self-centered liars, every one of them. Even if she were only the second witch he’d ever met.

  “You really are a bitch. Good luck getting up the cliff.” He turned to walk away. He wouldn’t actually leave her there. Well, not for
too long, anyway. He’d climb back up and get some help. Someone who wouldn’t be tempted to strangle her on sight. God only knew who he’d ask. Although, he seemed to be the only one who felt homicidal around her.

  “No, wait, please.”

  He stilled but didn’t turn around.

  “I didn’t mean to be a bitch. I’m just embarrassed and sore. Please help me.”

  Rye turned, forcing himself to keep his face impassive even though he wanted to rush over and check on her. Was she injured? Had she broken something?

  “Say you’re sorry.”

  Her eyes widened. Jeez, if looks could kill. He actually found himself amused by the look of outrage on her face. He would say one thing for her, she certainly didn’t bore him.

  “Apologize?” she squeaked.

  “Yes. Do you remember how? I’ll help you out. It starts with S and ends in ORRY.”

  “You are a bastard.”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “And a jerkwad.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “You’ve been spending too much time with my sister.”

  “Actually, I heard that word from Zoey.” She winced, sucking in a sharp breath.

  Fuck it.

  Moving forward, he crouched beside her as Norman whimpered. “What hurts?”

  Normally, her skin had a soft glow to it. You didn’t notice until you grew close to her and realized that she wasn’t as human as she appeared. But right now, her skin looked sallow, sickly. There were lines of pain around her mouth.

  He grabbed her hand, taking her pulse, which beat rapidly but strong.

  “My leg. I think I twisted my knee.” She was wearing black tights that ended mid-calf and a small, tight top. His cock, which had grown hard as soon as he’d seen her, throbbed uncomfortably in his pants.

  What was wrong with him? She was injured, in pain, and all he could think of was how much he wanted to fuck her?

  “I’m going to roll up your pants. This might hurt,” he warned.

  She hissed as he drew her pants up, and he frowned at the sight of her swollen knee. “No way you can walk on this.”

  How the hell was he going to get her up the cliff? He couldn’t carry her up by himself. He’d have to call for help. Rye reached for his communicator on his wrist.

  “It doesn’t work down here. I already tried. I don’t suppose too many people come down here.”

  “What were you doing down here?” he asked.

  Elika closed her eyes, and he studied her closely. It wasn’t often he got the opportunity to simply stare at her. She was always so watchful, always had her guard up. He understood why. Being held for years by a maniac like Mortef Husan would make anyone jumpy and careful. She was doing remarkably well considering she’d only been free a few months.

  Dark, sooty lashes stood out against the paleness of her skin. Her long, brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail, revealing her graceful neck. She’d gained some weight over the last few months but not enough. At least her cheekbones weren’t quite so pronounced.

  Her blue eyes opened, and he hastily turned his focus to his communicator, as though he had been studying it all along.

  “I was going for a run, and I saw Norman up on those rocks.” She gestured up. “I called to him, but then he disappeared. So I raced up onto the rocks and saw him down here.”

  “And instead of calling for help you decided to follow him down here? What the hell were you thinking?”

  She glared at him. “Obviously, I thought I’d follow him down, hurt myself, and then have you rescue me. Oh, lucky, lucky me.”

  He clenched his jaw, grinding his teeth together.

  Elika placed her hands over her ears. “Please don’t make that noise. It tortures my ears.”

  “Sorry,” he muttered.

  “I twisted my knee part way down then fell the rest of the way. Norman proceeded to half lick me to death—and by the way, he’s been eating garbage again—before I sent him to get help. And no, I can’t talk to him, but I think he understands more than he lets on.”

  Rye looked over at Norman who was once again engaged in his favorite activity, chasing his own tail. Yeah, he wasn’t so sure.

  “All right, so if we can’t use our communicators and you can’t talk to Norman then I’ll have to go back up the cliff and get some help.”

  She bit her lip. “Okay.”

  He stood, hesitating slightly. He didn’t want to leave her here, hurt and alone. “Norman, stay with Elika.” Knowing Norman, he’d probably do the opposite, but it was worth a try. But the dog did stop chasing his tail and sat.

  “Rye?” she asked as he turned away.

  Rye turned back. “Yeah?”

  “I’m sorry. For being so rude to you.”

  Surprised, he nodded. “It’s okay. You’re in pain, I understand.”

  She smiled. It was the first time she had ever smiled at him. Jesus, she was beautiful. And a witch, he reminded himself. The very last person he should ever want.

  “I’ll be back soon. Just stay where you are.”

  “Wasn’t planning on going anywhere.”

  Elika bit her lip to stop herself from immediately calling him back. What was wrong with her? She didn’t even like the grouchy human male. It was only because she was hurt and didn’t want to be alone.

  Except it wasn’t just that and she knew it. Every night she found herself dreaming about him, fantasizing. It pissed her off. He obviously didn’t like her any more than she did him. Not if the way he snapped and snarled at her every time they came into contact was any indication.

  She lay back with a moan, placing her arm over her eyes to shield them from the rising suns. Norman licked her arm.

  “I’m ignoring you, Norman. Of all the people to go to for help, you chose him.”

  He was the reason she was out here in the first place. Unable to sleep, plagued by erotic dreams about the dark-haired, green-eyed human male, she’d decided to go for a jog. She loved the early mornings. They were cool and quiet. Anywhere else she might have feared for her safety, but the Zerconians were extremely protective of women, almost crazily so. It wasn’t something she was used to. Their protectiveness, the way they cherished their mates.

  It made her jealous. And sad for what she would never have. She wasn’t human, so the likelihood she would ever be a Zerconian mate was pretty much zero.

  “Just be grateful they gave you a place to live, Elika. You don’t need more than that. You’re better off relying on yourself. On being alone.”

  No one would be able to put up with her craziness anyway. The nightmares, fear of darkness, panic attacks; she worked hard to keep them a secret. The last thing she wanted was anyone’s pity.

  Elika knew the only reason she was here was that she’d helped Lucy escape Mortef Husan’s clutches. And Lucy was mated to Thor, the Emperor’s cousin.

  She wasn’t here because she could be a mate, or because she mattered to anyone who lived here.

  She hated having to rely on others for food, shelter, protection. But she had no other choice. She had no one. Only Lucy. And the only reason Lucy cared about her was because they’d shared a horrifying experience, being kidnapped and held by Husan. Elika had been captured when she was nineteen and held for twelve years by that bastard. It was a hard adjustment to find herself suddenly free. If it hadn’t been for Lucy and her offer of a place to live, Elika had no idea what she would have done.

  She swallowed heavily, remembering how she’d grown so desperate during the years she’d been held by Husan, that she’d attempted to take her own life.

  But she wasn’t helpless now. She was in charge of making a life for herself. She had a job, a place to live. All she needed to do was work out the rules, to understand what it was people wanted from her.

  “Kind of sucks to realize you’re all alone, Norman.” He whimpered, and she drew her arm away from her eyes to pat him. “It’s okay. I’m just feeling sorry for myself.”

  Useless. Worthless. Unlove
d.

  No. No, she wouldn’t listen to him. He was gone. And he was wrong. She might have made mistakes in the past. She knew that once she’d been arrogant and selfish. But she wouldn’t make those same mistakes again.

  Rye caught sight of Darac and Willa heading towards him. Once he’d reached the top of the cliff, he’d quickly contacted Darac. Luckily, they only lived a few minutes away.

  “Where is she?” Darac asked.

  “Down the cliff.” Rye nodded over towards the rocks. “She fell. She’s hurt her knee. We might need a stretcher to carry her up.”

  “And Norman’s with her?” Willa asked worriedly. “Has he hurt himself?”

  “The mutt is fine. Came and woke me up then pretty much led me to her.”

  “Oh, good boy, Norman.” She nudged her mate. “See, he does have a brain.”

  Darac just shook his head. “Show me.”

  Rye turned to climb the rocks.

  “You will stay here, mate,” Darac rumbled from behind him.

  “Ah, no, I don’t think so. Elika is my friend, she needs me.”

  Rye turned back to glare at his sister. “You’ve known her all of two seconds.”

  Willa placed her hands on her hips. “So? Didn’t take you that long to decide you hated her.”

  “I don’t hate her,” he growled.

  “What was she doing out here anyway?” Darac asked.

  “I don’t know,” Rye admitted.

  “She goes jogging in the mornings,” Willa explained.

  Darac frowned. “Alone? Early in the morning? That does not sound safe.”

  Willa rolled her eyes. “How is it not safe? Who would dare hurt her? This is the safest place I’ve ever been.”

  “Yes, but you have been to some very unsavory places.” Darac frowned at Rye disapprovingly. “I would not allow you to run around in the early hours of the morning alone.”

  Willa patted his chest. “Ah, big guy. Sometimes I forget how delusional you are.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Just that it's cute you think you get a say in what I do.”