Cosmic Castaway (Cosmic Romances #3)

22. Chapter 22

Chapter 22

A request that I can’t refuse.

Bartholomew refused to look at me, but he allowed me to hold him tight and one of his hands slid up and down my back. He wanted to court me. He liked me, or I assumed he did because he’d agreed to be with me. I’d convince him we were mates; I simply needed time. I knew it deep within me. The feeling had been building since I met him; I hadn’t understood. Now that I did, I intended to keep him.

It was that simple.

He and Vince were nothing but friends, which eased the fear in my soul. It seemed he’d been as jealous as I was, but over Dontilvynsan. I swallowed a laugh. My older brother had almost cost me my mate. I would have to tell him about it when he rescued Bartholomew and me. Dontilvynsan would find it amusing.

I nuzzled Teddy, taking a deep inhale and only smelled myself and my mate. None of the alien’s scent remained. I swallowed a growl at the thought of that other alien touching my Bartholomew. I wouldn’t allow anyone to ever harm him again.

He released a long breath, tickling my scales. An urge to place my lips on his almost overwhelmed me. Bartholomew had tasted so good and felt so right against me, and I needed to experience it again.

We hadn’t discussed altering our current permissions, so no kissing, no grabbing his butt, or biting him, let alone sex. I desired all of it. But I would wait until he was comfortable with me and us before requesting more.

I wrapped my tail around his calf and covered him with one of my wings, though the tent was tight. “Are you still sore?”

“Yeah.”

I needed to see the bruises, and not because I wanted to see Bartholomew without his clothes on, though that would be pleasant, but rather to make sure he was healing correctly and to clean them again. Instincts thrummed inside of me to bathe every hurt inflicted on him.

“Are they healing?”

“Yes,” he said. “You worry.”

“You’re mine to protect.”

He swallowed.

I didn’t press the issue. Humans had different ideas of mating than we did. I knew this from my two younger brothers and their mates. Nonetheless, he was mine. But no matter the logic, the overpowering need to see the injuries wouldn’t abate. “Can I see them?”

He lifted an eyebrow. “See or lick them?”

“Both.”

Bartholomew sighed. “I know you have this… need to clean them, but I don’t think I want you to do it again.”

Hurt clawed me. “Was it wrong?”

Red filled his cheeks and spread to the tips of his round ears.

“Teddy?”

“It’ll turn me on.”

“Turn on?” He wasn’t a piece of equipment, nor did he have an on and off switch.

“Make me hard,” he said, eyes anywhere but me.

“I don’t understand.”

Grunting, he grabbed my hand and placed it on his cock, which twitched beneath me. “I will get hard, turned on, aroused.”

My breath turned fast as I cupped him through his trousers—my trousers. My mate was in my clothes. Why was that so attractive? I met his gaze. “I wouldn’t mind that.”

Slowly, Bartholomew pulled me away. “I’m not ready yet.”

“I will wait, my Flower.”

He grunted, settling against me.

“What do you like to do?” I dragged my claws over his spiky hair. It was slowly growing. I couldn’t wait until his hair was long enough for me to play with.

“What?”

“You said I didn’t know you, so let me know you.”

Bartholomew glared at me, and I grinned, biting my lip and playing with the ring. I wanted to hear his voice. I was desperate for him. With a long breath, he started. Not all of his words made sense, but he talked and talked until his eyes started to flutter closed.

He shook it off and started to talk again about going to the woods with his mothers and sisters—something they used to do often—but his voice trailed off again as his eyes closed. His breath turned even in sleep, and I readjusted until my face was right next to his, allowing me to feel his warm breath on my scales.

“I will take good care of you, Mate. I promise. I will make sure you want for nothing, so you’ll stay right beside me. I will give you no reason to stray or go home,” I whispered in Drakconese. “I will be whatever you need, so stay with me. Please don’t abandon me.”

He didn’t answer, and his breath rushed over my cheeks.

Heat grew in my gut at the memory of his soft lips on mine. My cock twitched and then swelled in my trousers. I needed him. I rubbed the bulge, tempted to stroke myself off, but I refused to leave Bartholomew. I shoved my desire away. Bartholomew wasn’t ready or desiring of my physical love, so I’d wait for as long as he needed, even if that was forever.

Serlotminden pushed a warm bowl of water toward me with a wide smile. I didn’t think I’d understood what I was agreeing to when I accepted his claim. He’d gotten excessively caring over my slightest need. He’d melt water for me to drink before I even woke up. He was constantly tying a blanket around me. His touch was so soft whenever he grabbed me. The last few days had consisted of him following me and trying to provide anything I needed, even though we were on a derelict shuttle.

His care was getting excessive, and I liked it. A lot.

He also asked constantly about my injuries, to the point of even neglecting his own. Mindy didn’t seem to care he’d been stabbed not that long ago, though he did like whenever I fussed over him. He’d practically preen.

I smiled at the warm water. “Thanks.”

“Of course, my Flower.”

He stepped into the tent and pulled it closed to allow me some privacy. Since he’d fixed the lights, it was nice and bright. He hadn’t managed to restore the environmental controls, so it was balls-cold, but light was better than nothing. I stripped and cleaned myself. Bathing was something I absolutely enjoyed now. So every couple of days, Mindy heated enough water for me to get clean.

My hair was slowly growing, but it wasn’t even close to how I used to wear it or even curling yet. As I scrubbed my scalp, I wondered what he’d think of my curls. Would he like them? Play with them? Did it matter?

I scoffed. Of course, it mattered. I liked playing with his hair, and I wanted him to like mine.

Finished, I pulled on some of the last of the clean clothes. We were going to have to do laundry.

“Can I come out?” Mindy asked.

“I’m decent.”

He crawled out of the tent and moved right by me, holding me, and inhaled deeply. Yeah, he still huffed me, even more so now. Serlotminden’s chest vibrated against my back, and he rubbed his forehead on the nape of my neck.

“My turn,” he said against my ear, “but you do not have to leave.”

I snorted and went into the tent.

“You could’ve at least acted like you wanted to stay,” he complained. “I am hot as fuck .”

Laughter slipped out. Mindy was good at that—making me laugh. I poked my head out. “Would you feel better if I ogled you?”

Serlotminden crouched and bent over me, making his long hair tickle me. “I don’t know what that means… ogled. But I would like you to watch me.”

“You think I will fall for you if I see you naked?”

“I am attractive.”

No shame. Literally none. I chuckled. He made me… happy. I’d never had someone who pulled me out of my brain and made me laugh so easily. He leaned closer, and for a second, I thought he might kiss me again, but he didn’t. Mindy merely hovered over me, tail twitching.

“Will you stay?”

That felt like a loaded question. If I said yes, what was I agreeing to? Though if I said no, I’d hurt his feelings. “It’s awkward.”

“Why?”

“Because.”

“I do not understand, but it’s fine.” He grinned. “How about I take you on a date? That is a thing, correct? Kalvoxrencol has talked of the dates he takes Seth on. Zoltilvoxfyn also takes Caleb on dates, though he is not as vocal.” He looked around like someone might overhear us. “But they fuck in public. Like Zoltilvoxfyn’s greenhouse. Caleb likes the risk of being caught. At least, that’s what Kalvoxrencol says. Seth caught Caleb and Zoltilvoxfyn, and it made him… turn red? I forget the right word.”

“Blush?”

“Blush,” he repeated.

The more I learned about Seth and Caleb, the more I wanted to meet them. They were humans who’d made their lives in space. Maybe I could do the same? I pushed the thought away. We were stuck here for who knows how long. The point was moot.

“I’ve caught them as well. They were fucking in their quarters with the door open. Worry not, Flower. That is not something I enjoy.”

“Good to know,” I replied. Not something we needed to worry about at the moment, but nice to know all the same, I supposed.

He beamed, then his smile faltered. “But if you like it, I can try.”

“No.” I might have no experience, but I didn’t care for the idea of other people watching or finding me and Mindy fucking.

“Then we won’t.”

“What would we do on this date?” I asked, changing the subject. We’d done everything even slightly interesting on the ship.

“If I think of something fun, will you date me?”

My lips pursed. “Sure.”

He moved even closer, leaving a hair between us. I felt his breath on my skin as he said, “Thank you.”

I grunted, embarrassed, and went back into the tent. I listened to the sound of him bathing and tried not to think about him naked. I’d seen him before, and fuck, he was pretty. Though, my thoughts veered to the way he smiled, how he played with his lip ring when he was nervous, how he made me laugh, his tail that never seemed to stop moving, how he raced about, and the way his voice rumbled.

A few minutes later, he came inside, shivering as he dried his long hair. I slithered under the nest of the blankets and held out my arms. “Come here before you freeze.”

Mindy didn’t need to be told twice. He snuggled against me before I had a chance to react. I settled on his chest, listening to the thrum that must belong to his heart. I closed my eyes when his cold fingers started to stroke my back.

This was nice. Just this. Just us.

“Did you think of something fun?” I asked.

“We should venture outside again.”

“What about the other alien? I don’t really feel like getting attacked again.”

“Trust me to protect you.”

I snorted. “There is a difference between trust and asking for trouble. He was huge.”

“We cannot remain in here forever. We will need water and food. We’ll have to venture out eventually.” He lifted my chin. “I will never let you be in danger. Not ever.”

That I believed. He was too protective of me to allow something to hurt me. “Fine.”

Serlotminden grinned. “Let’s go swimming.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

My first date. Unbelievable that it took an abduction, a desolate planet, and a hot alien to make me want one.