Cosmic Castaway (Cosmic Romances #3)

27. Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Courting gifts.

I felt like an Old West housewife, or an Old West wife, I guessed. All of them were housewives, weren’t they? I wasn’t really sure. Whatever. It didn’t matter. I snapped the wet briefs and draped them over the strand of wire Serlotminden had strung between two makeshift poles.

The day felt warmer than usual; whether that was true or not was anyone’s guess, but we’d opened the door and decided to do laundry. Or rather, I’d decided to do laundry, and Serlotminden had insisted on hunting, alone. He’d made several good points about being faster and quieter by himself. In the end, I’d agreed. He was determined to provide, and nothing was going to stop him. With a kiss, he’d left.

Handwashing clothes sucked ass. I hated it. At one point, I’d simply stomped on the clothes in the sudsy water. Everything was dirty, though, and we didn’t know how long it would be before his brothers came for us. I wasn’t even sure how long we’d been gone. The days had blurred together, and we’d settled in, hence the laundry.

Pookie was sleeping in her nest, perfectly content. She drank the water we’d provided, and nibbled on the nutrition bar without any enthusiasm. I had no idea what she ate. Spiders ate bugs, rabbits ate vegetables, and pigs ate everything, so what did Pookie eat? Mindy hadn’t been sure either. We would have to try a variety until we found out what she liked.

Another reason why Mindy had gone hunting. The nutrition bars were running low, and we had to eat. Water wasn’t an issue, with the ice everywhere and Serlotminden’s ability to create fire. I even had warm water for washing the clothes.

Food was the problem.

The four-armed alien hadn’t returned, and we had no way of knowing if there were others like him out there, though I assumed so.

I didn’t want anything to happen to Serlotminden. I liked him. A lot. Since our slightly awkward date, he’d treated me even nicer than before. Always giving me water or food; always dragging his claws over my prickly scalp; always snuggling me close; always… taking care of me.

I shook a pair of pants out and stretched them over the line. I needed to hurry and wash some of the blankets. I wasn’t going to do them all. What if they didn’t dry in time? Did things dry in freezing weather? Mindy had said it would be fine. I wasn’t so sure. But no matter. I wasn’t washing all of the blankets, just in case. We’d freeze without something. I planned on doing them in stages.

I held the jumpsuit that Agk had made me wear. The water slid down my arm, dripping into the tub. I hated it. I hated even the sight of the worn brown cloth. With as much force as I could muster, I chucked it; the skinsuit hit the snow with a satisfying slap. I’d wasted energy washing it. I wasn’t going to wear it ever again. I’d keep wearing Serlotminden’s clothes. Besides, he liked me in his clothes, if the heated looks he gave me were evidence.

Finished, I went to our tent, gave Pookie a pat, and snagged some of the blankets and shoved them into the soapy water. Stomping on them, I tried to take all of my frustrations out on them. Sleeping next to Serlotminden was torture. Every night, I snuggled right beside him or on top of him. It was so warm and comfortable, but it was starting to not be enough. The urge to explore his body, taste him, kiss him, and never stop kept growing.

God, I wanted him to fuck me so bad that it was an ache. The thought of him on top of me, his hair dragging along me, his breath jagged with pleasure. My pulse picked up as a tantalizing curl of want gathered in my stomach.

Crunching reached my ears, and I jerked. Serlotminden came toward me, panting. He held a bird about the size of a turkey, but it was bright red and covered in fur, not feathers. Its beak was curved with a deadly point on the end, and its talons were easily as long as my middle finger.

“Did it hurt you?” I asked.

“No.”

“Good,” I grunted.

Serlotminden came to my side and took a deep inhale, which made me blush. I shoved my glasses up my nose, ignoring the steam on the cracked lenses.

“For you, my Flower,” he said, holding out the dead bird. “I can and will provide for you.”

My caveman . Be still my beating heart . “Thanks.”

That was enough for him. Serlotminden planted a kiss on my cheek and raced away. He cleaned the bird with the laser scalpel that was in the med kit. I had no idea how to do that, so I was happy to stand aside and keep washing the blankets while he dealt with the blood and guts.

Besides, I’d had enough blood and guts for a lifetime. I didn’t need any more. My mouth went dry as my pulse sped up. I shook my head, trying to focus on the warm water. I didn’t want to think about what had happened. Not again. But the memories surfaced without prompting. Blood pouring out of my nose as Agk hit me again with the baton. Vince screaming in the background. The sharp pain of the xoi hitting me in the ribs.

A squeal shattered the silence, and I jolted. Pookie scrambled out of the shuttle, one of her six legs lifted. Her snout wiggled as she took deep inhales. I patted her with wet fingers when she walked by, moving toward Serlotminden. Shaking off the past, I continued stomping on the blankets.

“Pookie,” he called. “My adorable daughter.”

I swallowed a laugh. I’d mentioned this morning that humans often called their pets their kids. Mindy had asked if it was the same with cats as with other animals, and I told him yes. He had then proceeded to tell me all about the house gods us humans worshiped, and one in particular, Lucy who belonged to Seth.

Yeah, someone had lied.

Apparently, Seth or Caleb had told the drakcol that humans worshiped cats, and they believed it. How far the lie extended, I wasn’t sure, but I had no intention of correcting their misunderstanding. Instead, I’d nodded along and corroborated that humans worshiped cats. Because why not?

Serlotminden petted her, but she ignored him, focusing on the pile of organs. A frenzied squeal came out of her before she leaped onto the pile, eating. My stomach churned as blood splattered her white fur and the organs squished between her teeth.

“We found what she likes to eat,” Mindy said with a broad smile, patting her back.

I swallowed the surging bile and turned back to the blankets.

When Pookie finished, she started back to her nest, limping, but Mindy snagged her. With a wet cloth, he cleaned her fur of blood while she wiggled, legs thrashing to get away. When he released her, she snorted at him and scrambled back to the hold.

“She doesn’t like baths,” Mindy commented, and I chuckled. “Flower,” he groaned, nuzzling me. I flushed. He caught my chin to mold his lips against mine, and I moaned at the soft touch. Serlotminden didn’t press for more as he gently kissed me, nibbling on my lips. Much too soon, he pulled back and brushed my cheek with the back of his finger, then bounded away.

Before long, Serlotminden had a blazing fire going and was roasting pieces of meat on it. Fat dripped, sizzling on the hot flames. The tantalizing aroma wafted in my direction, and I abandoned the laundry. The blankets were done, and fuck it all, my stomach was grumbling. I hadn’t had fresh food in years, not since before I’d left Earth.

I wandered toward the fire, practically drooling. Serlotminden held his arms open in invitation, and I didn’t hesitate for a single moment. He tugged me close and nuzzled my head and neck. I rolled my eyes but didn’t move away, because he needed it. Scent marking relaxed him, and it didn’t hurt me in the slightest. When I sagged against his broad chest, his tail coiled around me in a gesture that was becoming familiar. That was another thing that calmed him, holding me, and it calmed me too, oddly enough.

The meat continued to cook over the flames as we stood next to the warm fire. My focus kept returning to the empty nests time and time again. Where were the creatures who lived in them? Maybe the rockslide from when we crashed into the cliff had scared them. That was possible. But would they return? I hoped not. I forced myself to stop looking at them because why worry about something that might never come to pass?

“We need to cook the meat thoroughly to make sure it’s safe,” Mindy said against my neck, huffing me like usual.

No matter what we did, we could get sick. It wouldn’t be a fun night if we spent it puking… or shitting. But cooking the meat thoroughly wasn’t a bad idea. Even dry and overcooked, it would taste better than anything I’d eaten recently.

After a while, Serlotminden shifted back, but he kept his tail around my ankle. He pulled the meat off the flames and took a nibble. “It tastes fine.”

I doubted he could taste deadly meat, though I was sure he’d scanned the bird before bringing it back. He gave me a large piece, and I shoved some in my mouth. A groan ripped out of my lips as I chewed frantically, stomach rumbling. It tasted closer to beef than chicken, but it was greasy and amazing. My fingers couldn’t force meat into my mouth fast enough. I breathed out, tongue burning from the heat, but I didn’t care.

More. I needed more.

When I finished my chunk, Serlotminden handed me another. I ate it with a gusto. I tried to slow down so I wouldn’t choke, but I couldn’t. It was so damn good, and I was so hungry. I ate until there was nothing left, then I leaned back against Serlotminden, stomach bulging.

Laughing, Mindy nuzzled my neck and placed a hand on my gut. “I will feed you well, my Mate.”

I stilled. He’d never called me that before. Not once. My heart pounded. What did it mean precisely? And if it meant what I thought, did he mean it?

I snuggled against my mate, utterly satisfied. The blankets smelled fresh, but soon they would smell like him, which was better. Bartholomew was fed. I’d called him mate, and he hadn’t panicked, but he didn’t return the sentiment. Nonetheless, I would continue bringing him gifts to show him I could care for him as he deserved, even here.

He was mine, and I would give him everything.

Bartholomew gripped me, and I held him back, pressing my nose against his skin. How did anyone smell this good? I groaned against his neck, and his breath sharpened, which made me smile. He liked when I made noise. I’d discovered that at the river. He always reacted when I moaned and groaned in pleasure. That boded well for us later. I wasn’t quiet when I fucked.

My lips found his skin, tracing over his neck. I licked a light bruise, and groaned at the taste of him. My Flower was lovely beyond compare. I continued to nuzzle and kiss Bartholomew as I held him tight within my embrace.

A long breath came out of his lips as he shuffled out of my arms, curling into a ball. Pain stabbed my soul. My mate did this sometimes. He pulled away instead of turning toward me. Why? I needed to know.

I followed. This could not remain. He liked me. He did. I knew it. I gently rolled him, and he refused to look at me, so I grasped his chin. “Why do you pull away, Mate?”

“Do you mean that?”

“What?”

“The mate thing.”

I brushed his cheek. “I told you I was going to claim you. I’m going to care about you for the rest of my life.”

“You can’t know that.”

“I can.” I could and would care about him for the rest of my life. Drakcol could take multiple sex partners, but we had one mate. Some sought the Crystal to find their perfect soulmate, like my younger brother Kalvoxrencol. Others, like me and my elder brother Hallonnixmin, met the person we wanted for the rest of our lives, choosing for ourselves.

I’d chosen Bartholomew. He was my mate. I would never desire anyone else, ever. Whether he chose me back or not, Bartholomew held my soul. I was willing to give him my one chance because he was special. I’d never felt this way before, and I was willing to stake my life on this feeling.

Most drakcol did not outlive their mates or survive when they were rejected, which was why we guarded our emotions, but I hadn’t bothered. Bartholomew was meant for me.

Besides, it was only a matter of time before he chose to stay with me for the rest of his life. I was attractive, successful, and perfect for him. Why wouldn’t he keep me? He wouldn’t abandon me. I was sure of it.

“You can’t know that, Serlotminden,” he repeated.

I cupped his cheek. “I can and do. I will always want you. I am never going to leave you. Trust me.”

His wide eyes stared at me. “Do you promise?”

“Yes.” Easiest promise of my life.

Bartholomew grunted, rolling to his side.

Once again. Why did he do that?

I settled behind him, my knees against his, his butt cradled against my hips, and I kissed his neck, making his pulse jump beneath my lips.

“Mate, speak to me. I do not understand.”

His muscles tightened, and I surrounded him more, sliding my wings out from the back of my shirt so one draped over him. Bartholomew was completely enclosed in my embrace. Safe.

“I have you, and that will never change,” I said.

“Okay.”

I frowned. Maybe he needed more reassurance? “You are amazing.”

He grunted.

“You are. You are caring. You always make sure I’m resting and not doing something foolish. You have an amazing laugh, and you always make me happy. You’re so smart and clever. You’re gorgeous. You are my perfect match in every way.” I did not need the Crystal to tell me who I belonged with. Bartholomew was my mate. He was it.

Bartholomew rolled over in my embrace. One of his legs slid between mine. I cupped his cheeks, running my fingers over the sparse hair. My soul pounded in need. He was mine, and I was his.

“Don’t hide from me, please,” I said in a low voice. “I like all of you.”

“I’m not hiding. I promise.”

“Then what are you doing?”

He frowned.

“What?”

“I’m worried.”

“Why?” What did he have to worry about? I was here.

“I’m worried you’ll change your mind about wanting me.”

I laughed, kissing his cheek. “Trust me. I am yours. No one else’s. Not now. Not ever.”

“Do you promise? No matter what I say or have done?”

My lips pursed in thought. “There is nothing that would change how I feel.”

Bartholomew snuggled against me. “Alright.”

I beamed. Had I proven my worth? I hoped so, because I didn’t want to live without him.