Chapter 22 Julie
The trip back to Vokira had been a blur of sorting, cataloging, and organizing all of the goodies we’d bought, both for ourselves and for the colony.
We spent the days of the life cycle knee-deep in crates and boxes, trying not to eat all the chocolate we’d bought before we even made it home.
Between cataloging the supplies for the colony and sneaking bites of raspberry preserves straight from the jar, I’d barely had time to think, or rather, overthink, about this new thing blossoming between me and Grtirr.
During his time away from the bridge, Grtirr would come find me.
We’d fallen into an easy rhythm. Meals together, stolen moments in the corridors, and—okay, fine—nights spent in his temporary quarters.
His bed was warmer than mine, his arms even warmer.
I didn’t feel like I had to be on guard.
I could just… be. With him. Which was weird, right?
I’d also managed to finish the article for the Ellaston Gazette, writing it while Grtirr did some final tune-up for the hovercraft.
It wasn’t as good as what Dana could have written, and I was certain that she’d have to edit it heavily to make it publishable.
But that was what editors were for, right?
We’d been back on Vokira for five days now.
The second we’d released Tatertot, she’d run off into the stronghold’s walls.
She found me a few times in the cafeteria, begging for scraps, and even came to say hi once when I was enjoying a few breaths of evening air by the pond with my friends.
She met Hardtack, and the meeting had not gone well.
Penelope’s cooki sidekick had not liked sharing the spotlight.
And as for Grtirr and me? I decided not to move into Grtirr’s quarters right away because I wanted to see what happened now that we were back in the stronghold.
Especially when I found out about the nullvein root that was growing in the hydroponics lab.
What if he changed his mind about the bond?
What if he decided to try to take the medicine again and disrupt what was already there?
That wasn’t possible, was it? The thought made my stomach twist into knots.
But instead of going back to ignoring me ninety-five percent of the time and being a pompous jerk to me the other five, Grtirr had shown up the morning after we got back, offering to take me over to my work at the Ellaston Gazette on his hoverbike.
And holy hell, did he look hot as fuck on that thing. A total badass.
The way his thighs flexed as he straddled the seat, the way his hands gripped the handlebars like he was born to ride.
I guess the stuffy religious-looking medic robes weren’t safe for riding, because he’d worn nothing but his leather pants and a tank top.
Yeah, I might’ve drooled a little. Or a lot. It was hard to tell.
Then he’d head back to check on his patients. Chris was out and about again, but Charlene was still recovering.
Victor had shown up several times with more upgrades for the office and had asked for all the details about what happened on Halcyon Station.
He had asked so many questions that Dana had asked if he was interested in being a reporter.
His eyes had lit up for a second before a sad look had crossed his face, and he’d excused himself.
It had me wondering if we’d said something wrong, especially when he didn’t show up again, and someone else brought the bulletin board we’d been waiting for.
Every day, when it was time to head back to the stronghold, Grtirr was there, waiting for me like clockwork.
This went on for days, and he didn’t once invite me into his room or make a move at me, even though I was certain that every Kadrixan in a ten-mile radius could smell my lust. Was he waiting for me to climb him like a tree in front of everyone? Because I was this close to doing it.
My tablet chimed with an incoming message. I swiped it open, expecting a quick note from Dana about the article or maybe a reminder about some colony task.
Dana: Hey, heads-up, you’ve got the day off today. No need to come in.
I blinked. A day off? That was unexpected. I tapped out a reply.
Me: Day off? Is everything okay?
Dana: Everything’s fine. Better than fine, actually. Just take the day.
Me: Are you sure nothing’s wrong? You’re being weird.
Dana: I’m not weird. You’re weird. Anywho, have fun!
Have fun? Now that was doubly weird.
But before I could reply, there was a knock at my door. Grtirr was already here.
I opened it to find Grtirr leaning against the frame, arms crossed, looking unfairly good in his leather pants.
Except something was different. He looked…
better than normal, if that was even possible.
Was it the hair? He’d left it loose today with a few thin braids in it.
Maybe it was the black silky shirt he wore with the front half open instead of his usual sleeveless top.
Whatever was different about him today, he was good enough to eat, and I suddenly forgot what I was about to tell him, especially when he pulled me out of the women’s dorm and into his arms for a scorching kiss.
Wow! That was new. There was already a lot of talk in the dorms about what was happening between the two of us, but I’d never confirmed anything. Now for sure everyone knew Grtirr and I were a couple.
I didn’t mind though. Not when it meant that every woman there knew that this medic was taken.
When he finally let me up for air, I remembered what I needed to tell him. “There’s no work today. Dana says I have a day off?”
“I know.”
He knew?
“Come,” he said, taking my hand and leading me down the corridor toward the exit to the valley.
What the hell was going on?
When we got out there, his hoverbike was waiting in its usual area.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.” He lifted me onto the seat and slid in behind me so that his arms and legs were on either side, holding me safely in.
I’d tried sitting behind him this first day, but his body was so much bigger that I had difficulty wrapping my arms around him, and every time he turned, it felt like I was going to go flying off the bike.
Sitting in front felt so much more secure, and we’d done it this way ever since.
The only issue was that every bump and turn had us rubbing together, and I’d feel every inch of his erection pressing against my back by the time we got to our destination.
It’d take him a few minutes to calm down enough to get off the hoverbike without showing some major tenting.
But this time, we were not heading to Ellaston.
Instead of continuing down the valley path toward the settlement, Grtirr turned onto a much less traveled path under the shade of the trees.
We wove through the arboreal giants until we stopped at a small clearing right underneath a sheer rock wall.
The clearing was beautiful with a small waterfall—there were hundreds of these around the mountain.
The water dropped into a rocky pool before continuing down a babbling brook to join the larger river that ran through the valley.
“Ooh! It’s so pretty here!”
I found myself wandering toward the tiny bridge to cross the creek toward the waterfall. Whoever had built the bridge had simply piled a few logs over the water and strung a rope on one side as a guide.
I only realized how rickety the bridge was after I stepped on it. The log rolled just enough to send my arms flailing. I tried to reach out to the rope, but Grtirr was there, taking my hand and guiding me gently against his body.
“Careful, my little mate.”
The moment felt magical as he helped me the rest of the way across the logs. We stood there in front of the pool, watching the waterfall as the morning sun warmed the water.
“I am glad you like this. I enjoy this place too.”
“Is that why you brought me here?”
“No.” Grtirr suddenly picked me up, and I had to muffle a surprised yelp. He met my eyes when he said, “I’m taking you to our nest.”
Then, without another word, he leaped into the air. I threw my arms and legs around him out of instinct, as his words slowly penetrated my pre-coffee, morning brain. If he was bringing me to our nest, then that must mean… Holy smokes! This was our mating flight!
“A nest? You’ve already built me a nest?” The words came out sounding more like a squeal than I wanted. But I was so excited, and giddiness had my stomach doing flips. I didn’t understand why it felt like such a big deal. It wasn’t like humans had nests, but it was important to me.
“I started the moment we returned. Every minute I am not with you, I have been cultivating our nest.” He cupped my face, forcing me to look into those warm, golden eyes. “You are mine, Julie. Mine. And I’ll build you a hundred nests if you want.”
A flush crept up my neck, his possessive tone igniting something deep inside me that I couldn’t ignore.
“I’m sorry I tried to fight the bond,” he continued as we climbed into the air. “I’m sorry I hid from it. I know I have much to atone for. But know this: You are my mate, and I am yours. And even if it takes a million years to earn your love, I will never give you up.”
His words had my breath catching in my throat. Suddenly, I couldn’t remember why I’d ever fought this. My fingers dug into his arms, my pulse hammering.
“A million years?” I managed, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Or longer if I have to.”
I had a feeling it wouldn’t come to that, but I didn’t say it.
I looked down at the clearing beneath us and immediately regretted it. We were high. Like, way higher than I’d realized. The hoverbike below us shrank to the size of a child’s toy. I clung to him so tightly my fingers ached, my pulse roaring in my ears as the world receded below us.
“Breathe, my little mate. You are safe with me.”
“I am breathing!”
He chuckled, the sound vibrating through me. “I will distract you.”
I didn’t need to ask how because the air around us was already shifting, the masculine, musky scent of him wrapping around me. Calming chemicals filtered through my system everywhere our bodies touched. But it wasn’t just calm his body created for me. It was need too. Desire.
“Julie.” His gaze dropping to my lips was the only warning I got before he kissed me, his mouth crashing onto mine.
His lips were hot and demanding, and I melted against him without a fight, feeling like I was exactly where I belonged.
One powerful hand tangled in my hair, tilting my head to deepen the kiss, while the other gripped my hip, pulling me flush against him.
His tongue swept past my lips, thrusting into my mouth.
A low growl rumbled in his chest, vibrating through me. His tail slid up my leg, the rough texture of his skin sending heat pooling in my belly. I moaned into his kiss, my fingers digging into his shoulders, as the flat of his tail pressed against the front of my leggings, right over my clit.
His cock pressed against my pussy through the layers of clothing we wore, and I almost wished we could shed them and fuck right now, in the air. I ground against him, making him groan.
But just as quickly as it had started, Grtirr pulled his lips away.
Fingers tightened around me as he swooped to the side, flying between two narrow rock walls.
I clung to him, the thrill of the flying combining with the lust that coursed through me.
With his cock still hard between us, he dove in for the landing.
I clung to my winged beast as I scanned the ledge we’d landed on.
The surface was mostly stone, but there was some grass on one side and a gnarled, but strong, tree sticking out of the junction between the ledge and the mountain.
How it had managed to take root on the side of a mountain, I had no idea, but it was in full bloom, its flowers filling the air with an intoxicating fragrance.
That same neon green paint that was everywhere inside the stronghold pointed toward the cave opening, almost glowing from the pigments. Grtirr had installed a door, which opened the moment he approached with me still in his arms.
“My research tells me it was customary for human males to carry their brides across this threshold. Would you like that?”
I nodded. I’d liked that tradition very much, and had always thought it was romantic.
With a grin of triumph, my Kadrixan warrior carried me over the threshold.