CHAPTER 49 #2
They moved off, but kept watch. Dakleth sat on the cushion next to mine, then reached over and effortlessly pulled me into his lap.
The Ptexari were pretty averse to touch, especially in public, so I was surprised how much he seemed to want to touch me right now.
I wasn’t entirely comfortable in his lap, and it became even more uncomfortable as his erection started poking my ass.
I tried not to squirm. He held me firm as he scented me all over, rubbing his nose through my hair, behind my ears, around my jawline, as his palms caressed my arms. I was struggling not to get aroused myself, but it had been a long time since anyone had touched me this way, and his own very obvious enjoyment of my body was turning me on.
“Dakleth, no.” I said.
“No?” he questioned.
“No, we are not doing this. I am safe. That’s all. Now let me go back to my own cushion.”
He took a final inhale of my hair and sighed. “Yes, mate.”
“I’m going to get some Oonag for us,” I said. “Can you wait here while I get it?”
“Yes, mate,” he practically deflated like a scolded child.
“Dakleth,” I said. He looked up at me as I stood. “I’m not unhappy with you,” I said. “You defended my honor. It was a little extreme, but I appreciate it. You’re a good male.”
He perked up, and his chest rumbled. “I have pleased my mate,” he said, eyes glowing blue again.
Well, I wouldn’t have gone so far as to say I was pleased, but I let him have it. “I’ll be back in a minute,” I said.
“Yes, mate,” he said, with more enthusiasm.
“Andie,” I said.
“Yes, Andie, mate,” he said. That was probably all I could expect for the moment.
I went to the replicator and ordered two mugs of Oonag.
One of the palace stewards, a female, walked over.
“The King sends his regards,” she said. I looked to the other end of the room and saw King Akapa and the Charonu Prime Minister in a heated discussion.
“He sent me because the Prince likely would not be able to stand a male approaching you.” I looked over at Dakleth, who was watching us intently.
“Got it,” I said.
“The King wishes you to know that he expresses much gratitude for your de-escalation of the situation with the Prince.”
“No problem,” I replied, grabbing the Oonag.
“When you deem it prudent, the King believes it would be best for the Prince to leave the room while he continues discussion with the Charonu Prime Minister.”
“Ah,” I said. Dakleth’s presence was a bone of contention. “I’ll get him out of here.”
“Our thanks, Princess,” she bowed her head.
“No Princess. I’m just Andie.”
“As you wish, Lumanela.” I sighed. Whatever, I didn’t have time to argue with the Palace servants about titles right now. I brought the mugs back to Dakleth. “Let’s walk back to the music room as we drink our Oonag,” I said. “I’ll play something for you.”
“Yes, mate,” Dakleth said, eyes still shining blue.
He stood up, and I rearranged his skirt so his erection wasn’t so obvious. It looked like he was wearing a loin wrap underneath, and that helped rein the monster in. I tried not to think about that as we left the room and headed towards the music room. The King nodded at me as we left.
When we got to the music room, I instructed him to sit on a cushion while I settled on the piano bench.
The calmest music I could think of was Pachelbel’s Canon in D.
It would have been more compelling with a full orchestra, but even stripped down to a single piano, the piece carried a quiet, aching beauty.
A memory slipped into my mind as I played.
I had taken an astronomy class during my freshman year that met at the university’s planetarium.
At the beginning of each class, we would sit in the theater under a huge dome.
The lights would dim, and a recording of Pachelbel’s Canon would play as the planetarium projector depicted a time-lapsed sunset that eventually faded into the night sky.
A lot of students fell asleep before the stars ever became visible. I chuckled at the memory.
I had spent many nights when I first got to my village in Ptekennan staring at the night sky.
The constellations weren’t any that I recognized.
I had learned so many in that astronomy class.
After several classes indoors, we moved on to using actual telescopes on the roof of the planetarium to pick out other celestial bodies - Venus, Mars, the occasional meteor shower.
The hazy, white glow of the Milky Way. I was so proud when I went home for winter break and pointed out Cassiopeia, Taurus, and Orion and his hunting dog to my Dad.
Here on Ptekennan, none of it was the same.
If the stars or constellations had names, I didn’t know them.
It seemed like wasted knowledge. So much of me felt useless here on this planet. I would never see my stars again.
A tear slid down my cheek as I played. I was having a moment of melancholy. I knew it would pass. They were few and far between now, but every now and then a song or a scent would trigger a memory from Earth, and I would break down. It was times like these when I missed my parents the most.
“Andie, no, mate,” I heard Dakleth say softly.
I had been so lost in the music and in my thoughts that I had forgotten he was here with me.
He moved to sit on the bench next to me.
He was so large it was almost comical, and I hiccupped a bit as I sobbed.
He pulled me into his lap and wrapped his arms around me.
“What’s wrong, my love?” he asked.
“Sorry, I’m just feeling a little homesick,” I said.
“It is a beautiful song, even if it did make you cry,” he murmured into my hair. “Cry all you need, love, I will hold you.”
I didn’t want to argue about the whole love, mate, friendship status.
It felt good to be held. I let myself go, sobbing into his chest. He murmured soothing words and rubbed my back as I clung to him.
He didn’t rush me. Didn’t try to tell me that Ptekennan was a better planet or that he would make it better. He just let me cry as long as I needed.
I was a snotty mess by the time I got myself together. The Ptexari didn’t have kleenexes unfortunately. “Sorry,” I said, wiping my eyes and my runny nose. “I need to go clean up.”
Still holding me, Dakleth made his way to the replicator and requested a towel. I grabbed it and wiped my face and blew my nose in a most unladylike fashion. It was almost enough to make me laugh.
“Better?” he asked, gently setting me on my feet.
“Yes, thank you. Sorry about that. I was just having a moment.”
“There is no need to apologize,” he said. “You helped calm me down. I merely returned the favor.”
“Yeah, so about that…” I began.
“I know,” he sighed. “I lost control. It should never have happened, but when that piece of filth casually spoke of sharing you with his partners as if you were some sort of sexual plaything, I blacked out.”
“Yeah, that was pretty egregious,” I said. “Not enough to kill him, though. Or start a diplomatic incident.”
“You are worth any sort of diplomatic incident,” he declared firmly.
“I’m not sure your father would agree.”
“You are probably right,” he said. “I do not look forward to facing his wrath.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen your father angry,” I said.
“He hides it well,” Dakleth said. “I wish I had as much control over my temper. Kashtinela takes after him more. He says that I remind him more of my mother. She was a passionate female.”
“Well, if you’re feeling more yourself, I think I’ll head home,” I said.
“I shall accompany you,” he said.
“Normally, I’d say yes, but I suspect you need to go make amends with your father.”
“On the contrary, I think my father would suggest that it is best I remove myself from the Palace for a day or two,” he said.
“I hope you’re not suggesting you stay with me!” I said. Uh uh. No way.
“Of course not. I will go back to my estate. Technically, it is your estate, but I assume you have no objections?’
“No, no,” I said. “I told your father I don’t want it. You can have it back. I’m happy with my cottage.”
“It is still yours anyway because we are mated. All that belongs to me belongs to you.”
“Let’s not argue about this right now,” I said. “I’m tired, and I just want to go home.”
“As you wish. May I fly you?” he asked. It would be quicker, I told myself. Not that I was interested in being held by him again. Or that I thoroughly enjoyed flying with him.
“That would be ok, I guess,” I said as he scooped me up and carried me out of the Palace.