Cosmic Husband: A Spicy MM Sci-Fi Romance (Cosmic Romances Book 1)

Chapter 17

I left the meeting with Talvax smiling, though it had nothing to do with the discussion, as that had been routine and monotonous. All my happiness had to do with Seth. My Seth. The way he smiled. The feel of his lips on mine. The way his voice had grown bolder. With every passing day, he was becoming the light of my life.

When I met Pimtimzol, he suggested we walk the promenade while we talked. As we strolled, I searched for something to buy Seth, barely paying any mind to Pimtimzol’s rattling. Purchasing Seth things was exhilarating, and I wasn’t sure why. My eyes landed on a simple silver chain and I paused. In the back of my mind, I imagined placing the necklace on Seth.

I bought it without hesitation.

Pimtimzol touched my arm. “Kalvoxrencol, you are not paying attention to me.”

“My apologies,” I said, shoving the chain into my pocket.

“You’ve been buying Seth an inordinate amount of gifts recently.”

“I can buy my mate what I want.”

“You can, but it has been excessive.”

I snorted, crossing my arms. “I’m not being excessive. My Seth deserves all of it. He deserves everything.”

“You are marking your territory. Quite thoroughly at that.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’ve done everything but pee on him.”

“What?” I asked in a strangled voice.

Pimtimzol’s eyes glimmered in amusement. “You’re acting like a zurqi when they’re worried about their mate. You’re telling everyone Seth is yours, which is unnecessary. Everyone knows.”

I scrubbed my hair. Was that what I was doing? I did like seeing him wear the things I’d purchased. It made something primal inside of me relax. “I never thought I could care this much about someone, but Seth.” I couldn’t explain the deep, throbbing emotion in my soul. “He’s mine, and I like buying him things.”

“That’s not wrong, but try being yourself. Be open and honest with him. Don’t try to buy his love with gifts. Gifts cannot replace the truth.”

“I do everything wrong.”

“You’re young. Of course you’re doing everything wrong.”

Lucy rushed toward Kal when he came inside, rubbing along his legs. “Hey,” I said before turning back to the book I was reading. NAID had translated the history of Tamkolvanloknol, and I found it interesting.

Like drakcol and barbarus—Urgg’s species—used to be at war. Their truce was a recent thing, a little bit over a hundred years, though tensions remained high between the two species. The past animosity made me wonder about Urgg and Talvax. No wonder Urgg had thought Talvax was crazy when she’d come to date them.

Kal draped something over my head. I reached up and touched a chain warm from his body heat. “What’s this?”

“An apology for leaving you earlier.”

“You don’t need to apologize. You had a meeting.”

“Still,” Kal persisted.

I sat up, setting aside my tablet. “Kal?”

“Yes, my Seth.”

My jaw clenched. I wished I was wearing my hoodie. It was like a security blanket. It added another layer of protection. But I didn’t need protection from Kal, right?

Something inside of me quaked. Maybe I did? Maybe he would get mad? If he did, what would he do?

No. I refused to back down, and Kal had never, not once, been threatening toward me. He would never hurt me. I knew this, but it was taking my body a while to realize that.

“I appreciate you buying me this stuff,” I said, tugging on the chain, “but I don’t want anymore. It makes me uncomfortable.” My shoulders automatically hunched as I cringed.

Kal looked away, and the people-pleaser side of me rose with a vengeance to take my words back, but I swallowed them. My pulse started to race, and sweat dampened the back of my shirt.

“I need you to say something,” I said, my voice reed thin.

“I’m not mad. Pimtimzol warned me I was buying you too much. I like getting you things.”

“And it’s nice, but it’s too much.”

“I’m sorry.”

I hooked my arms around his waist. “Stop. I’m not upset. I’m… trying to communicate better.”

“I appreciate that.”

“Good, because it makes me feel sick.”

“Do you want to watch your weird baking show?”

“Yeah, I do.”

After Seth went to sleep in his room, I perched on my bed, reading a book. A chime sounded. “Yes, NAID?”

She appeared in the elderly human guise she wore in front of Seth. “Captain Dontilvynsan would like to speak with you.”

Big brother number two. “Put him through.”

Dontilvynsan appeared. His black scales caught the light as red and gold accents shone between them while his wavy purple hair gleamed. Even on the screen, he was enormous in height and width.

“Pest.”

Every single one of them, even my cousin Monqilcolnen, called me that. “Do you all have a schedule to bother me on certain days?”

“Yes, Hallonnixmin arranged it. He did it so Mother and Father wouldn’t bother you.”

Guilt instantly stabbed my chest. “That was very nice of him.”

“He thought it would be easier to talk with us.”

“Thanks,” I whispered.

“We would do anything for you, Pest.”

That was something I knew. They’d proven such time and time again. No matter what happened, my brothers stood behind me and in some cases in front of me, protecting me, supporting me, and loving me.

“What can I do for you, Captain?” We’d been calling Dontilvynsan “Captain” long before he joined the navy. He liked to take charge, so Hallonnixmin gifted him the endearment.

His eyes moved side to side, and I knew what was coming.

“Where is your mate?” he asked.

“In his room,” I confessed.

“You’re not sleeping together?”

“Not yet.”

“Why?”

I ran a hand through my hair. “He doesn’t feel the bond. Seth needs time. I’m wooing him.”

Dontilvynsan asked in a monotone voice, “How is it going?”

“Fine.”

He raised an eyebrow at my tone. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” Seth was kissing me, holding my hand, and snuggling. He was voicing his opinion and sharing more. It was a matter of time before he decided to stay bonded to me.

“Has he declared his intention to stay?” he asked like he heard my thoughts, which he could do when we were in person but not over the screen. He often saw right to the soul of the matter regardless.

“Not yet.”

“I’m sure he will.”

“He will,” I barked. “I have to go.”

“Kalvoxrencol,” he started, but I didn’t let him finish before disconnecting.