Chapter 9
Balarr couldn’t get enough of the sweet human.
He held Luna tight as he continued kissing her, delving his tongue inside her mouth to tangle with hers.
He savored the little whimpers and moans she made, and he especially loved it when her hips jolted forward, causing her stomach to press more firmly against his stiff length.
He was throbbing to be inside her. A mental image of her bent over the bed, her slick pink folds on display, as he prepared to mount her, flashed in his mind.
But he quickly resolved that he couldn’t claim her from behind during their first time together. He supposed they should be face-to-face, staring into one another’s eyes as they repeated the mating vows of his people just before he sank his rigid cock into her pussy.
He reminded himself that they would have many years together—the rest of their lives—and plenty of opportunity to explore a variety of positions.
Tenderness swelled inside him as he deepened the kiss, causing her to moan into his mouth. His cock throbbed harder, and his blood heated. He burned for her—ached to claim her with every fiber of his being.
He quickly decided to push all remaining thoughts of the past aside and focus on the present—focus on Luna. She was about to become his mate, and it wouldn’t be fair to her if he harbored thoughts of another female while they exchanged their mating vows and physically consummated their union.
Balarr withdrew from the kiss and peered down at Luna.
A pretty blush stained her cheeks, and her eyes were heated with desire.
She was so beautiful, the sight of her took his breath away, and not for the first time.
He’d been just as stunned by her beauty when he’d laid eyes on her in the hospital room.
He gave a low growl, then swept her into his arms and carried her to the large bed. He gently placed her down atop the covers, and when he noticed goosebumps on her arms and legs, he called out a verbal command for the computer to increase the temperature in his quarters.
She glanced at the ceiling as a slight hum filled the air, and the room became noticeably warmer—too warm for his tastes, but he would adapt.
She shot him a grateful look. “Thank you, Balarr. That was very thoughtful of you.”
The tips of his ears grew hot, and not because of the increased temperature in the room. It was because of the sweet way she was thanking him, and the look of gratitude she’d directed his way. It made him want to do more nice things for her. It made him want to give her the universe.
“You’re quite welcome, sweet Luna,” he said, tired of trying to stop himself from using the endearment. He liked saying it, and he suspected she liked hearing it. Maybe he shouldn’t overthink things. Maybe he should allow his instincts to guide him.
As she sat up slightly, her towel came undone, opening to reveal her breasts, as well as the sweetness between her thighs. Fluxx. Balarr stood next to the bed, staring down at her, admiring her beauty.
Her skin was smooth and pale compared to his, and he already knew how soft she was. He imagined stroking a hand up her inner thighs and a fresh wave of anticipation rushed over him, causing his scrotum to tense and his cock to lurch in his pants.
Another growl tore from his throat. Thankfully, Luna had gotten used to his growls.
Luna gasped and glanced down at her naked body.
She reached for the towel, as though intending to cover herself back up, only to pause and glance at Balarr with a questioning look.
Her hands trembled, and her chest started rising and falling more quickly, which of course only drew his gaze more intently to her bosom.
He longed to take one of her peaked nipples into his mouth and suckle until she moaned and writhed against him. He also wanted to tease those little buds with his teeth, perhaps give a good tug, though not hard enough to cause her any pain.
At last, Luna returned her trembling hands to her sides, and she allowed herself to remain uncovered. She lifted her chin a bit, and he thought he saw a spark of challenge in her eyes. It made his cock so fluxxing hard.
He stepped back and reached for the hem of his shirt, then untucked it from his pants. “I suppose if we’re going to consummate our mating union, we must both be naked.”
“Yes,” Luna said, a tiny smile gracing her lips. “I’ve heard that’s how it’s usually done.”
He felt his own lips quirk with a smile, a strange sensation because normally when he smiled, he tried to force it.
But it would seem Luna was drawing out a side of him that had been hidden for a long time.
In her presence, he was starting to feel like his old self—the male he’d been before the war: serious, conscientious, and hard-working, but not averse to sharing a joke or having fun on occasion (in the right company).
He removed his shirt and tossed it onto a nearby chair, then slipped his boots and socks off. He couldn’t help but notice Luna was admiring his body, and there was a pleased gleam in her eyes, as well as a fresh blush covering her face. There was also the increasing scent of her feminine arousal.
He waited for her to meet his gaze, then he worked open the fastening of his pants.
A growl of relief left him when his cock finally sprang free.
Her eyes darted down and she gasped. But to her credit, she didn’t cover herself back up with the towel, nor did she flinch or scoot away from him.
She remained in place on the bed, waiting for him to join her.
Waiting for him to claim her.
His heart grew warm as he imagined exchanging mating vows with her.
Shock reverberated through him as he considered what this might mean.
He hadn’t expected to experience feelings for his assigned mate.
Especially so soon in their acquaintance.
But he couldn’t deny the warmth he felt whenever he looked at her, and it wasn’t just because she was breathtakingly beautiful.
It had more to do with her spirit—with the essence of her soul that he glimpsed whenever he stared into her sky-blue eyes.
He recalled the day he’d heard her name on the breeze, and not for the first time, he wondered if the Star God had led him to her.
Balarr finished removing his pants, then tossed them toward his discarded shirt.
Now fully naked—he wore no undergarments of any kind—he stood next to Luna and allowed her to continue admiring his body.
Or rather, his cock. It seemed her eyes never strayed far from this part of his anatomy.
Just when she would start to glance up, her eyes would refocus on his hard appendage.
He walked around the bed, then crawled in next to her, angling his body against hers. He placed a hand on her stomach and leaned over her, then his eyes wandered down the length of her body.
To his relief, her abdomen was now smooth and unblemished where the bandage used to be. But the other four scars remained. Unfortunately, the nanobots couldn’t heal old scars.
He gave her what he hoped was a compassionate look, then he traced one of the old scars. Her eyes shimmered with tears, but she didn’t appear sad. Perhaps just a bit emotional. Maybe it was because they were sharing a tender moment.
“If you ever want these scars completely healed, I believe it might be possible to have them surgically mended,” he said, moving his hand to trace another scar.
“All Vaxxlian doctors are also touch-healers, so it’s also possible one of them might succeed in healing you that way.
But if you would like, we could consult with a doctor after we arrive in Starrzia. ”
She blinked fast as more tears filled her eyes, and she swallowed hard. “I would really appreciate that, Balarr. I know there’s no erasing the past two years, but I still don’t like seeing the scars, since they serve as a reminder of what happened to me.”
“We will visit an acquaintance of mine named Stax soon. He’s a renowned healer who lives in Starrzia. He actually developed the nanobots that are now given to all our warriors and their mates, as well as all our children. If anyone can remove your scars, it will be him.”
“Thank you.” She reached for him and ran a hand over his chest, smoothing her palm over his muscular abdomen.
Her breath hitched and the scent of her arousal grew stronger in the air.
“I wish there was something I could do for you. I know we haven’t even mated yet, but I’m starting to feel like our relationship is rather one-sided.
You rescued me, saved my life, gave me all those beautiful green clothes, and now you’ve promised to help find a way to remove my scars. ”
Something inside him softened suddenly, a part of him he’d never known existed. It was as though part of him had always been waiting for her—he’d just never known it. And now, she was there with him, softening this part of him and also filling it up with her sweet, honest presence.
“Whether you realize it, Luna, you have already given me something very profound. Something I never thought I would have again.”
“What is that?”
“Hope.”
Then he leaned down to kiss her.