Chapter 12
Riley
I stare at Dane from around Zalik. Why had I agreed to leave the village for my things? I should have stayed in our tent with Stella and never stepped foot outside the border. Or I should have, at the least, insisted on several warriors coming with us. Safety in numbers, right?
I can’t glean anything from Zalik. His hand is on his weapon, but he appears otherwise relaxed. I suppose that should make me feel better that my mate is acting so nonchalant, despite his threat to kill Dane.
I’d been shocked when he’d said it out loud. Would Zalik really follow through with it? I should be appalled, and perhaps even afraid, yet I’m neither of those things. I don’t suspect it’s an idle threat either. If it came down to protecting me or Stella, Zalik really would kill Dane.
As I stare at Lara’s former husband, I’m struck with a sudden wave of strength.
Or courage perhaps? Whatever it is, I’m done hiding behind my mate.
I step around Zalik and stand tall. Or at least as tall as my short legs will allow.
I look Dane straight in the eye. He’s nothing but an upper tier bully.
“Go home, Dane. Lara is dead. You staying here to punish either her or me is pointless. It’s not going to bring either of them back.
” I take a small step closer and lower my voice.
“I’m sorry she’s gone. I’m sorry you didn’t get a chance to meet your—and I swear she was yours—daughter.
I’m sorry you came all this way just to find both of those things out.
Lara really wanted love you, you know. Now, she’ll never be able to.
There’s nothing left for you here. Just… go home.”
We both remain standing there, waiting for acceptance, or maybe resignation even.
I see the second Dane experiences one or the other.
Or maybe both. Either way, the fire burning in his eyes goes out and his body deflates as if someone let the air out of him.
He releases a long exhale before giving me a small, succinct nod.
He doesn’t say anything, or acknowledge me in any further way before he turns and walks through the field in the direction of where Zalik said his ship had landed.
The two men with him look us over once, twice, before they follow.
I stay frozen until they disappear from my sight and then I sag with exhaustion and a bit of relief.
“Do you think he’s really going to leave?” There had been a sense of defeat in Dane as he walked away.
“I do not know, keeshla. But I am proud of you for standing up to him and not letting him intimidate you.”
“I finally saw him for what he really was. Bullies are who they are because they thrive on a person’s fear. I’m done being afraid.”
Zalik takes my hand and kisses my knuckles. “My mate is a fierce female.”
I chuckle. “I don’t know about that.”
“You may not, but I do.” He closes the distance between us completely and steals my breath with a long, deep kiss. One that curls my toes and starts a heavy throbbing straight in the core of me.
My panties grow damp with arousal, only this time, I’m not afraid of Zalik scenting it.
Wanting him shouldn’t be a secret to keep.
He’s gorgeous and kind. Loving. Protective.
I’d be crazy not to be insanely attracted to him.
Plus, he loves my daughter. That alone raises my opinion of him to the highest level.
“What has that look in your eye, keeshla?” he asks in a husky whisper that sends a chill down my spine and the heat in my center to burn hotter.
“I’m just thinking about how happy I am to be yours.”
“It cannot be happier than I am to be yours.”
I loop my arms over his shoulders and lace my fingers behind his neck.
My breasts are pressed so tightly against his chest, I’d be surprised if he couldn’t feel how hard my nipples are.
Slowly, I pull Zalik’s head toward mine and brush my lips across his.
My tongue darts out to tease the seam of his mouth.
Without hesitation, he opens and immediately takes control of the kiss.
The few we’ve shared before this one have been mostly sweet, but still arousing. This kiss? It’s on a whole other level. This is one shared between lovers. It’s the kind of kiss done in the privacy of your own home because it’s going to lead places. Naked, hot, sweaty places.
My fingers twitch with the incredible need to explore every inch of the canvas of Zalik’s body. The need to feel their way across the expanse of his broad shoulders. His sculpted chest. The furrows of his abs, including those sharp lines of his hips.
Unable to resist touching more of Zalik, I glide my hands down over the strong slope of his shoulders and along the line of his ribs around to his back.
There, I trace the hills and valleys of it, moving up and down along the line of his spine, tracing the rigid arches of each single vertebra.
Zalik’s hands don’t remain idle either. He palms my breast over my shirt making me whimper in need of more.
He plucks the turgid nipple and rolls it between his fingers.
His lips travel from my mouth, along my jawline before he buries his face in the crook of my neck and sucks my flesh between his teeth.
I’m sure there’s going to be a love mark there when he’s through.
Not that I care. I want him to mark me just as he’s marked so everyone knows we belong to each other.
Zalik slides his thigh between my leg and presses it against my aching core.
A gasp tumbles from my lips, and I roll my hips to generate more heat.
More friction. More pleasure. It occurs to me how out in the open we are.
That any moment someone could stumble upon us.
Another Tavikhi warrior returning from a hunt.
A wayward human. I know I should care, but I can’t—don’t.
An intense need building inside me overpowers any modesty.
I reach for that ephemeral sensation that’s so close and yet feels so far away. I work myself harder against Zalik’s thigh, tilting my pelvis to get better contact against my throbbing clit. The sensations flowing through me are too much and yet not enough.
He pinches my nipple hard and sucks my neck, biting down.
His teeth scrape along my flesh, and it’s the spark that ignites the fuse.
I rock my hips again and again—the pressure and tension building higher—until, at last, the explosion occurs.
Through all this my hand has made its way to the base of Zalik’s tail and I grip it hard within my fist, trying to anchor myself.
He releases a harsh and guttural roar and his entire being jerks along with mine as we climax together.
My whole body sags against Zalik and if not for him holding me up, I’d crumple to the ground like a limp noodle. A bead of sweat trickles down my spine to settle in my low back before it’s absorbed in my waistband. I feel like I just sprinted a mile.
I drop my damp forehead onto Zalik’s chest and close my eyes while I try to catch my breath.
The fact that he’s having as hard of time recovering as I am makes my pride swell.
I did that. Me, who’s always had mediocre sex with mediocre guys who really had to work hard to make me come—if they even could.
I lower my gaze and stare at the wet spot that covers the front of his pants. No man has ever lost control with me like that before. I worry Zalik will be angry for his loss of control. Until I lift my head and there’s a cheeky grin on his face. He doesn’t even look embarrassed.
“That was incredible, my beautiful mate.”
I duck my head because that’s a first for me. To hear how good it was when all we did was some heavy petting and dry humping. I’m not sure I’ll survive when we have actual sex.
“Yeah, it kind of was.” I’m ready to do it again, in fact.
“Hopefully my leg coverings dry before we reach the settlement. When we return to our village I will wash up again.”
I wince. “I’m sorry.”
“Do not be, because I am not. At last it is my turn to have a mate who makes me lose control. I worried it would never happen.”
I’m not sure I’ve ever met a guy as excited as Zalik is to come in his pants, but he appears genuinely happy.
“You made me lose control as well.” If he can admit it, then so can I.
“This makes my heart happy to hear.” He takes my hand. “Come, keeshla, let us get your things so we can return to our village and our kit.”
We continue on our journey and for a brief time my thoughts don’t stray far from what happened between us.
Far too soon though, they drift back to the confrontation right before.
Is Dane really going to give up and go back to Earth?
I can only hope so. I don’t want to live in a constant state of alertness.
One where I’m waiting for him to pop out from around another corner or for him to try and get inside the Tavikhi village again.
All I can do is wait and see, I suppose.
Finally, Zalik and I step out of the forest. Across the field lies the settlement.
Several plumes of smoke spiral through the sky from people’s fires.
The gate isn’t locked when Zalik checks it, so he pushes the creaky door open and we walk inside.
People already gather outside their tents, cooking their own meals.
It’s probably what I’d be doing if I were back here.
A few people give us a passing glance, but for the most part, we’re ignored. It’s far too close to the bottom tier. Everyone kept to themselves. If they didn’t see someone in trouble, then they could feel better about themselves for not helping. A way to lessen the guilt.
We reach my tent at the far back corner. It had been Lara’s idea to settle in this spot. She wanted to blend in. Not garner any attention. Have her baby and then the three of us could live in peace out from under the scrutiny of the rest of the humans. It had worked for a while.
I’m not ashamed of my dwelling, but I can’t help compare how small it is to Zalik’s.
Especially with both of us inside. He has to stoop slightly or risk hitting his head on the ceiling.
Plus, he’s just so…big. He takes up a lot of physical space and as I gather all my things, I collide with him more than once.
“How about I stand outside while you gather your belongings?” Zalik offers. “Once you are packed, let me know, and I will come in to carry everything for you.”
“Are you sure?” It feels like I’m kicking him out.
He kisses my forehead. “Do not worry about me. Gather your things, say goodbye to whatever you wish to say goodbye to, and when you are ready, I will be right outside.Take all the time you need, keeshla. There is no rush, I promise.”
I nod and Zalik ducks out the door, letting the flap close quietly behind him.
I glance around at my stuff as well as Stella’s.
Lara’s things are already gone—most of it to Maggie who needed maternity clothes.
The rest was either dispersed to the women of the settlement or put into storage.
The only thing left of hers is a single framed photo of the two of us.
We weren’t more than ten, if I remember correctly. We have our arms thrown around each other and the biggest smiles on our faces. I can’t even remember what we were laughing about. I just remember the complete and utter joy I felt. It was Lara and me against the world.
Carefully, I wrap the framed photo in my clothes.
Far too soon, I’ve packed everything I own in two bags.
It’s a little sad when I think about it.
Stella’s things are stacked neatly on the table.
I’ll swing by the Vaughns on our way out and let Maggie know she’s welcome to them.
The only thing of hers I am taking with me is her baby blanket.
Once I’m certain I have everything packed, I take a final look around the tent that had been my home for the last year. The place where I thought Lara and I would be starting fresh. Instead, it’s where she took her last breath. It’s where her—my—daughter was born.
Not every memory is tainted.
Knowing there’s nothing left here but my past, I step outside to where my future—where Zalik—waits.