Citun’s Storm by C.L. Scholey Page B

human, another problem would arise. Their Zargonnii females would come to hate all alien females. Not a good idea. Another argument broke out with Taft and Jari separating two disgruntled warriors. Citun caught the scent of a female and became furious. Ashala flittering around his ship in a cloak and dagger routine was uncalled for. Perhaps she didn’t realize the warriors might not be able to see her, but they could scent her. Warriors could scent females from miles away. Hence, this huge problem with the two enticing, different alien females on board.
    “This needs to end.” Citun rose to his feet and nodded at Jari. “We may need to alter our course.”
    “Good luck with your Storm and her crony tempest. Want someone to come looking for you if you’re gone for a while?” Jari said, and the warriors chuckled. Citun would have, too, but he had an uneasy feeling Jari wasn’t actually kidding.
    As he strode to Storm’s room, he braced himself wondering if he would be met with the same blast of water ash that sent him flying onto his ass the night before. All he did was open the door and wham , his hair went flying to one side of his head and for the life of him, he expected a part in his fur, he had been ruffled so much. Talk about the walk of shame to his room where he checked himself over in the mirror.
    The second Citun entered Storm’s room, the two females held hands. The wall of ash rose, danced and whipped around the room to smash into his chest. Citun was knocked back a foot, nothing more. The two were toying with him.
    “That’s enough.”
    Apparently, it wasn’t. Ash rolled across the ceiling taking the form of a thundercloud. Every particle fell to surround him, to curtain him from the waist up. Citun coughed while waving his arms around his head. The smell was honey, not sickly sweet but enough to annoy. The furniture rattled and the replicator spewed chocolate milk to soak his ass, then as he wondered who would clean the mess, the liquid disappeared back into the replicator. He still felt sticky and grumbled, knowing his butt cheeks would soon need a date with a shower. Citun was pissed.
    “You say my warriors are without honor. We’ve never hurt you. Storm, you poisoned me. Tried to make me feel less a male. I ran from a horde of bugs like a child, intending to keep you safe. I went into a nest of vipers to save you from a fate worse than death, and risked my life to toss that Tonan through the window. Ashala, I have never once caused you harm. Every time I want to talk, it’s a war zone in here. And for fuck’s sake did it have to be chocolate? That shit stinks.”
    The ash wall crumbled, then slithered away to settle in a far corner and disappear. Ashala was watching him; her gaze shifted uneasily.
    Storm’s gaze was furious. “All you want is sex. You lied to me. You said I could make a choice.”
    “I don’t want sex,” Citun said. “I want a mate. An honorable one. I seem to have mistaken you for that, human.”
    Storm’s mouth dropped open. “That’s not fair.”
    “What isn’t fair is grouping me with every other alien male you’ve encountered. I have never once tried to kill you, never entertained the idea. All I’ve done is kept you safe.” He knew his glance was scathing when he leveled his heated gaze onto Ashala. “So, what horrible thing did Taft do exactly?”
    “He, he’s too pushy.”
    Citun glared at her. “How can he be pushy, when you don’t stay in the same room with him for more than a few seconds, or try to drown him? My warrior is a good male. He deserves better than you. If you don’t want him, tell him. Stop playing childish games, or I’ll put you over my knee.”
    Citun had never struck a female, but he was tempted to spank them both. He could see both females’ eyes widen. Ashala looked terrified and confused, then disappeared.
    Storm crossed her arms over her chest. “So, the big bad warrior needs to scare females. Proud of yourself?”
    “I