Chapter 30
Tsok
His mate was acting oddly. The High Imperium was acting oddly. Boktare was giving the hand he’d automatically put around Misty’s waist a disapproving stare while Fia gently touched his side, as though trying to calm him down. Tsok wished the entire party would go away so he could talk to his mate without intervention for just a moment!
What ring was she talking about? Why did she look like she’d suddenly had an epiphany? He wanted to ask her, but he didn't want to ask her in front of Boktare.
“Have you given any thought to my latest proposal?” Boktare asked before Tsok could think of something to say to excuse them.
The question made him frown. “While I appreciate your stance on the subject, senior, I believe that outlawing mating completely is a bit too far. No matter what compromise you offer me, I will not bend on this.”
“What?” Misty looked up at him, then quickly whipped her head towards Boktare. “What do you mean ‘outlaw mating’? You’re already mated!”
“Of course, I don’t mean those who mate by pure accident,” he explained calmly. “There was no intention there, and therefore no blame. Accidents happen. I meant, outlaw mating as an option. I don’t believe it’s something our species needs to be promoting. And if we outlaw it entirely, we can use True Match to make sure even accidents don’t happen. If we make the scan mandatory, we can assure that no mating pair ever crosses paths.”
“Woah, woah,” Misty frowned at him. “That’s way too far, isn’t it?”
“I believe it’s exactly what our people need.” Boktare gave her a look down his muzzle that made Tsok need to suppress a growl. “With all due respect, you are only a human, charina. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Tsok felt Misty tense under him, and he tightened his hold. Part of him was curious if she would charge after the senior for the obvious insult. She didn't, but she was like a rock at his side, unmoving and unyielding as she glared at the other male.
Fia, in a sweet tone, said quickly, “He means no insult by this. He just wants to make sure that all the females of our planet are safe. That’s it. Like he said, if you can just provide a way to make absolutely sure that everyone knows a couple consents to their mating, then he would have no reason to protest as hard as he does.”
“Exactly,” Boktare jerked his head firmly. “But since you cannot provide that-”
“What about a marriage?”
Misty’s hotly snapped question made all three of them look at her. Boktare and Fia looked confused, but that wasn’t a surprise. They hadn’t studied human culture like Tsok had.
“We’ve already discussed contracts,” he assured his mate sadly. “Merely agreeing in a legal capacity isn’t enough for the senior.”
“I don’t see why not,” she snapped, crossing her arms. “Agreeing to things in a legal capacity is how literally everything else is done, so I don’t see why now, suddenly, it’s not good enough for you.”
Boktare opened his mouth to reply, but she cut him off
“However, I wasn’t talking about the strictly legal side of marriage. I meant the whole thing.”
Tsok cocked his head curiously. “There’s more than the marriage certificate? Do you intend to change your name to mine, Misty? Because I do not have a second name the way humans do. Our people have designation numbers, and that’s not really something I can share with you.”
To his surprise, her stern demeanor broke and she began snickering. “You’re so cute.”
Unprepared for that statement, he found he didn't have a reply ready. Boktare, however, took advantage of his brief confusion to cut in-
“Excuse me, but what is a marriage?”
“It’s how humans bond,” Misty fixed him with a glare, her mirth vanishing as quickly as it came on. “My people don’t really mate the way everyone else does. We can’t even recognize our mates as easily as the rest of the universe. Back in the times before we had things like bureaucracy and DNA testing, the only way we had of binding a couple was through marriage. Marriage made sure that everyone knew a couple was together, that the children from that couple belonged to the man, and that the woman would be taken care of by her man.”
Boktare frowned. “I’m afraid I don’t see the relevance.”
“You wanted a way to make sure everyone knew about a couple’s decision to be together. Well, what better way than to make it a huge party? A big celebration. Vows and ceremony and the whole kit and caboodle.”
“The what?”
“Weddings require planning. They require forethought.” She made a face. “I mean, proper ones do. I don’t think you guys need to worry about Vegas weddings out here.”
“ What weddings?” Boktare was only looking more and more confused. Tsok wanted to laugh, but he felt it would be rather hypocritical considering he had no idea what she was talking about either.
“Make it a Thing !” She emphasized. “Make it something hard to do. Make it so that the parents are involved, and their consent is- well, maybe not necessary but encouraged. Or if people aren’t close to their parents, make it friends or some other family. Marriages back home need witnesses to be legal. Demand witnesses so that everyone can see that no one was coerced. Make it a whole tradition to do like a nasal filter removal so that there’s a specific time and place for it. So that the couple chooses when the rut happens. It can be their honeymoon! Their filter-moon, I guess. A wedding so that everyone they love can be witness and know that they both made this choice, then a reception to party and hype the couple up, then they can go off to their designated rutting area, take off their filters, and fuck like bunnies until they’re both happy.”
Tsok understood before Boktare did about halfway through her quickly spoken suggestion. Because he had been studying human culture and he, at least partially, knew what she was talking about. He had just never made the connection between the marriage certificate that marked someone as officially mated in the eyes of human law, and the wedding she described. He just thought the party was to celebrate the signing – a formality, rather than a necessity.
But the way Misty was presenting it now, it was like it was a necessity. Make it so that, before a couple could go through their rut, they had to prove themselves as willing to be together. Willing to not go through a rut together. Basically, reversing the order of how things used to be done between his people, back when mating was a natural part of their lives.
Like he was doing now.
“Humans used to have this no sex before marriage rule,” Misty continued, looking at Boktare seriously, as though willing him to understand. “Some people still do it now. Your people already have this sense of pride in their abstinence culture. Build on that! Put the idea in their heads that saving your mating for marriage is important because… because…”
“Because marriage is the only true consent,” Tsok took over, building on her idea. Looking Boktare dead in his eye as he continued. “Even humans, as sexual as they are, are capable of saving themselves for marriage. Surely, our people can do the same.”
Boktare’s face creased with displeasure. “Of course, we can. That is hardly in question.”
“Then, it is a neat solution, isn’t it? You have witnesses who know both parties who can make sure that they are there willingly. You can have them make these vows to each other. The planning of such a big party alone would be enough to prevent the majority of fools who would try to rush such a decision in a day.”
Boktare was scowling, but Tsok recognized that expression, and an eager sort of burning had lit up in his gut at the sight of it. That was Boktare’s thinking face. It was how he looked when he was adding new information to his current beliefs and measuring them against each other.
He was listening.
He was considering .
“I’ll send you information on human weddings and marriage,” Tsok said, grasping for the chance. “There is a lot there to sift through, as there are many wedding cultures and traditions that change greatly depending on where the human is from. But the core remains the same – it binds the couple together in a way that no one can deny. In a way that human cultures consider sacred, in their own ways. Even when they agree on nothing else, a bond between a male and bride is important.”
“I will look forward to getting the data,” Boktare said slowly, and though his voice was hard, Tsok knew that to be a good thing. It meant he was taking them seriously.
With that, the senior and his mate bid them both a goodnight and walked back into the party room. Tsok watched them go with a triumphant smirk before focusing back on his mate’s face.
She was glaring at him. His smile immediately dropped.
“Sorry.”
Her eyes narrowed. “For what?”
“I’m… honestly not sure,” he admitted. “I just don’t want you to be mad at me.”
To his surprise, she burst out laughing. Grabbing onto his arm to hold herself up, she laughed as she leaned into his chest.
“You’re an idiot,” she said, smiling.
“I know,” he relaxed, putting his arms around her. Holding her back. “But you forgive me for it so well.”
“Can’t bring myself to stay mad at you, sugar.” She shook her head, more at herself than him. “Even if you’re being silly.”
“Does this mean you forgive me?”
“You don’t even know why I was mad at you.”
“For not discussing my choice not to mate you with you?”
She tilted her head back, looking up at him. “Yeah. Definitely didn't like that. We’re supposed to be a team, Tsok. We’re supposed to plan things together. And for the record, I came to Kree to be mated. Not put in a second home like a side chick you don’t want your real wife to see.”
Tsok frowned. “You are my real wife.”
“I’m not even engaged to you. Much less your wife. Or your mate.” She pulled back, giving him a smirk. “I am nothing to you except a mistress. A lover. A paramour that you can decide at the snap of your fingers to not care about because there is absolutely nothing tying me to you – legally, or otherwise.”
“That is not true,” he growled, angered. “And I would never do that.”
“The streets are lined and graves are filled with poor women whose man ‘would never’. You are my sugar daddy, honored char. Nothing more.”
He still didn't know what that was, but he already knew it wasn’t a mate. It wasn’t a proper partner. If he judged by the gleam in her eye, it wasn’t even a good thing – despite the fact that her pet name for him clearly came from that title.
For that matter, he didn't like it when she called him honored char either. It wasn’t an honorific whenever she said it. If anything, the way it dripped from her tongue was more like an insult, a mockery, that he couldn’t even be mad at because it wasn’t either of those things by anyone else’s measure. And she knew that, it was why she did it.
“I am your mate,” he declared firmly.
“You’re really not though.” She smirked, holding her head high. “You’re just some guy that I fuck. On Earth, we call that a fuck buddy. Except you’re also paying for everything for me, which elevates you to a sugar daddy.”
It didn't sound like an elevation. He did not like that name. “I am your mate. ”
“Not according to that jewel on your face.” She taunted, wiggling her fingers at his filter.
“Misty…” He growled, following her further as she backed up into the party.
“Call me baby,” she grinned. “I’m just a sugar baby, after all. Fuck me, and then pay me for the privilege of having done so.”
That. That right there was why he hated what she was suggesting. She was reducing their relationship to that of prostitution. To that of an illicit mistress.
And he hated it because it was hard to argue against her. Not when he did fuck and provide for her without actually mating her. When he had no intention of doing so. Not yet.
She was telling him why she was mad at him, and it made him angry because he could see her point and he absolutely hated hearing it. That aggression sparked a fire that made him stalk her as she turned, walking back into the party like nothing happened.
She smiled at people. Waved to others. She made a big show of saying farewell to the High Imperium who flashed their combot back at her jovially.
All the while, Tsok stayed right on her heels, following after as she made her way to the entrance of the party hall. Taking her sweet time. Stringing him along because she knew that she had the power to do so and there was nothing that he could do to hurry her up.
Well, he could grab her. Throw her over his shoulder. Drag her out as she cursed at him, beating at his back, condemning him for being a fool, for taking advantage of her, for denying her what was rightfully hers .
But he couldn’t do that. Not in front of all these people. Not when he was trying to prove his self-control around his mate. It would undermine his entire argument.
Oh, but he burned. That wild call was there in the back of his mind. Insisting he bend her over, take her neck in his hand, and slam his cock deep. Fuck her until the only thing that sassy mouth could do was sputter and moan helplessly.
But he couldn’t do that.
No matter how much he needed it.
At the same time, he followed her like she had him on a leash. Completely helpless to the power she held over him. A pet for her to guide forward as she moved at her own speed. Knowing without even looking back that he was going to be there, because she knew she controlled him.
He loved that. He loved her confidence. Her sass. Even as he wanted to fuck it out of her, he longed to have her lord it over him. To control and command him. He wanted her to use his face as a throne from which she would command him to do whatever she pleased. And he would do it. Not because she was forcing him, but because he longed to follow her orders.
The conflicting feelings thrilled him as he stalked her through the room. Hunting her down like a beast in a forest of glittering jewels and shimmering silk.
She acted like he wasn’t there. Like she didn't notice. Slowly working her way to the exit where his driver – alerted by the venue staff of their movement towards the exit – was already landing his hover. The door opened automatically, and Misty sat delicately inside before scooching over. Giving him room.
Cornering herself.
He stepped in after, hitting the button to shut the door. It hadn’t finished folding over before he was grabbing her, yanking her onto his lap and kissing her roughly. Shoving his tongue deep into her mouth as she clung to his shoulders. Distantly, he was aware of his pilot raising the privacy divider between their compartments. He would appreciate his professionalism later.
For now, he focused on devouring his defiant female.
“Tell me you’re my mate,” he growled, claws digging into her hips where he clutched her tight.
“I am not,” she growled, biting the side of his muzzle. Pain blossomed there at the delicate skin, but it only fired him up further.
Grabbing the shoulders of her robe, he yanked it down, revealing her breasts. The robe itself was sturdy enough to keep them up without her bra contraption, meaning they were that much easier for him to access. To lick and tease and bite in revenge for her own little pinch of pain. He hooked one of his saber teeth through the hoop going through one of her nipples and pulled.
Misty let out a keening cry, head dropping back. He hooked a claw up through the other ring and did the same on that side as she wiggled and jerked her hips against him. Eyes locked on his. Cheeks darkened, eyes brightened, some of her carefully maintained hair slipping from its bun to fall around her face as her fingers dug into his skin.
“You are my mate,” he growled, letting the vibration of his voice run through the ring, through her nipple, into her body, as she panted and trembled.
“I am… not,” she forced out.
He snarled, tossing her aside. Onto her back on the seat. He turned as well, grabbing her legs and shoving them apart. His growl deepened.
His little mate wasn’t wearing any panties. Nothing to cover her below. She had just been walking around, nude from the waist down, slick spreading over her thighs with each step, and hadn’t even said a thing.
She smirked at him now. No doubt feeling victorious by the way he reacted to her.
“You will admit who you are, or you are not allowed to come,” he said, claws running down her thighs.
She smirked. “Do your worst. You’ll break before I do.”
Such a delicious challenge from such a defiant mouth. And Tsok honestly couldn’t say whether she was right or wrong.
But he would hear her admit to being his before this night was over. He didn't care if he had to fuck her until his cock was sore and his balls ached.
With an eager snarl, he struck. Immediately, he ran his tongue all the way up from the crack of her ass to the top of her slit. He curled it around that little bundle of nerves and pulled it into his mouth. He was careful with his teeth, applying just a hint of pressure against the skin surrounding that sensitive nub as she squirmed under him.
He focused hard on that pleasure button. Licking and flicking it with his tongue. He couldn’t purse his muzzle like her lips, so he couldn’t suck on it that way. However, he did figure out, with some trial and error, that he could wrap his tongue around it in such a way that he could suckle at it like a kit before their teeth came in.
Which he did. Building her to a quick, violent peak. He suckled and licked until he felt her hands tightening against his sensitive ears. It hurt, but he loved it. He enjoyed feeling how she tensed, her legs shaking so desperately, right before she came.
And just as her taut muscles began to tremble, deep moans working up their throat, he stopped and pulled back.
Misty let out a cry of mixed disbelief and dismay. She tried to lift her hips up off the seat, to chase after him. But when he just pulled back further, chuckling at her eagerness, she instead reached between her legs. Ready to finish herself off.
He grabbed her wrists – first one, then the other. He clasped them together over her belly, keeping her from reaching her own orgasm. Her cries became harsh and angry as her creeping orgasm faded away, escaping her.
Tsok dove between her legs again. This time, instead of her aching clit, he opened his mouth wide, pushing his tongue into her cunt. Thrusting it deep, his saber teeth pressing in against the side of her mons. Completely ignoring her clit but fucking her with his tongue. Rubbing against that little area at the top of her walls that made her jerk and cry until, again, her thighs started bouncing, jiggling, as they shook and her hands pulled against his grip on her wrists. When he had her right there on the precipice, keening to go over, he moved back.
She tried her best to keep him in place, to not let her release escape again, but she failed and let out a cry of anger.
“You are my mate,” he told her again. “Say it.”
“Fuck you. I’m an unmated woman!”
He chuckled, enjoying this game much more than he thought he would. His cock was painfully hard, and he wanted nothing more than to push deep inside, to fuck her until he was drained, but he held back, because more than his own pleasure, he loved seeing hers.
Or, in this case, he loved denying hers.
He went back, focusing on her clit again. It took barely a moment for the twice aborted orgasm to come rushing back and he had to stop. She got angrier this time, and he could only smirk at the way her hips wiggled and thrashed, trying to find any kind of stimulation.
As he was going in for the fourth time, tongue fucking her again, the hover came to a halt. The pilot – such a good professional – didn’t attempt to open their doors or interrupt them at all.
“Tsok,” his little female panted, looking down at him. Trying to crush his head in an effort to keep him right where he was.
A smirk pulled at the corner of his muzzle as he pulled back despite her. His tongue came out last, sliding up, laving over her clit with one harsh stroke that made her jump like she’d been jolted. But it still wasn’t enough to push her over the edge.
“What are you?” He demanded to know, tone harsh.
She didn’t answer immediately. The battle between what she wanted to say and what he wanted to hear fought out on her face for a moment before she gave him a shaky smirk.
“Your mistress.”
Growling, he grabbed her.