Chapter 13 #4
“I used to hurt others when I fought them,” he confessed softly, pain in his voice.
“I couldn’t spar with other domini normally.
My claws are too long, too thick, too sharp, to do so safely.
You have no idea how many times I hurt Atem while we were training together.
I had to learn to fight with my fists because I didn’t want to seriously injure anyone. ”
“Oh, Tuvo,” she breathed, lifting his hands. She pressed a kiss to the backs of his fingers before smiling at him over those wicked claws. “You’re a good male, you know that?”
“Hattie, careful…”
“You’re not going to hurt me. I know you’re not.” She slid her fingers around, entwining them with his as she held them close. “I’ll be careful, but don’t pull away from me just because you’re worried about hurting me. Okay? Trust me too.”
“Hattie…”
She pulled on his hands, and he stepped in closer. Easily controlled. She parted her legs, making space for him as she put his hands on her waist. He was careful to hold her with his claws off her skin, but he kept them there as she ran her hands up his neck to cup his jaw.
The kiss this time was slow. Careful. But no less eager.
She parted her lips and licked at his. Begging for entrance. Which he granted after only a moment’s hesitation. But he was careful there too. Making sure that she couldn’t get near his fangs. Pushing his tongue into her mouth instead to deny her even the chance.
Hattie laughed and gently bit his tongue. He started in surprise, and she used that chance to take over, controlling the kiss. Going right for his fangs. She stroked them gently, being careful of the sharp tips, made specifically for piercing flesh, but stroking them all the same.
Tuvo growled in warning but didn’t attempt to pull away. His steadfastness made her moan in relief as she relaxed against him.
This wasn’t a panic, anti-hysteria kiss either.
It was a long, exacting, deliberate kiss that sent tingles all up and down her body as she explored him to her heart’s content.
That big, muscular body felt so good, so right, as she curled her arm around his head and leaned against him, trusting him with her weight, as she tried desperately to deepen the kiss.
The forest, the situation, the potential danger, all faded away. She didn’t care if she died right now because she was finally kissing Tuvo, the male she had loved since nearly the first moment she saw him, and there was nothing better than that.
He growled again, and she thought it might be her name this time, but it was so deliciously rumbly she could barely tell. She whimpered, clutching at his clothes. Desperate for more. Because she was greedy and now that she had this, she wanted more.
“Ugh, seriously?”
Tuvo ripped himself free, snarling violently at the interruption.
Keith, who had come upon them, cried out and fell back a step, bringing up his hands to protect himself from the vicious predator he had stumbled onto.
“Keith?” Hattie mumbled, blinking rapidly, trying to come back to herself. “What are…”
He was here? He was alive?
Oh, wow! He was here! He was alive!
“You made it,” she said, sitting up as Keith skirted around Tuvo who had stopped growling but was now glaring at him with his lower eyes – the upper one remained firmly focused on her. “That’s great! Are you hurt?”
“Er, yeah,” he looked at her like she was dumb.
“I crashed into a fucking tree. Parachutes are bullshit, by the way. I was still dropping like a fucking rock. And I think I crushed a nut in that damn harness.” He adjusted himself like he was still feeling it but gave them an odd look. “How the hell are you two even alive?”
“Tuvo jumped and scaled down a tree,” Hattie beamed. “He’s awesome!”
“Huh. Wow,” Keith shook his head. “Whatever. Look, er, sorry about bailing on you, I just-”
He tried to step in closer, but Tuvo began growling again. His claws were digging into the wood on either side of Hattie, making it crack. Keith quickly walked back and Tuvo’s growls died down again, but he remained close like Hattie might be in danger.
“It’s okay,” Hattie smiled around him, running her fingers through his hair. “You were just looking out for yourself. And Tuvo saved me, so it’s fine.”
“Yeah. Sure.” Keith cleared his throat. “Anyway. Started walking. Figured I should get to the plane crash. Maybe see if I can radio for help or something. My phone broke on the way down. Doubt I’d have service all the way out here in the middle of fucking nowhere anyway.
Glad I found you guys. Glad you’re okay and all that. Er…”
He hesitated, giving Tuvo a cautious look again. Hattie genuinely didn’t know if Tuvo was angrier that Keith had bailed on them or that he had interrupted them. Either way, Hattie found his grumpy attitude cute and continued to pet him as he curled around her.
“We’re heading to the crash too,” she said brightly. “We just stopped to take a break.”
“Yeah, sure you did.” Keith gave Tuvo a look that earned another growl. He turned his head away, clearing his throat. “Anyway, guess we should get on the move, right? Sooner we get to the wreck, sooner we have a chance of being rescued.”
Hattie nodded before looking at Tuvo – catching his upper eye since the lower two continued to glare at Keith as though he were a threat.
“You ready to get moving again?” She asked Tuvo, feeling remarkably better now. It was amazing the power a single kiss had over her mood.
“Must that male come with us?” He asked, sneering in displeasure.
“Yes, we’re not allowed to leave him behind.”
“He left us behind.”
“You can’t blame him for trying to save his own life.”
“I can when it came at the possible expense of your life.”
“Aw, you’re sweet,” she smiled despite herself. “But still yes, he has to come with us. We’re not going to let him die. Humans are too fragile to be lost out here in the . Most of us are anyway.”
“He certainly is.” Tuvo scoffed. “Fine. But he lives only by your good graces. Make sure he knows that and treats you with the respect that you deserve.”
“All right, let me put my shoes back on and we can go.”
“Why do you need your shoes for that?”
“So, I can walk.”
He gave her a dull look. He didn’t even have to say anything.
“You’re not tired yet?”
“Hattie.”
“Okay, but at least let me ride on your back. So, you can have your hands free if you need them. I don’t want to overburden you.”
“You’re bad for my ego,” he sighed. “You’re not a burden, Hattie. Let me carry you. Let me protect you. Stop fighting against me.”
“If you’re sure-”
“Hattie.”
“Okay, okay,” Hattie chuckled as she reached for her heels that she had set beside her when Tuvo put her on the tree.
The moment she had them in her hands, Tuvo turned, putting his back to her. She smiled as she wrapped her arms around him, locking her legs against his waist, and let him carry her.
Somehow, this was less guilt inducing. Probably because this was how domini would carry their young naturally. He grabbed her thighs and stroked them with his thumbs as he started forward – not even giving Keith a single glance.
Hattie looked back, making sure he was following though. Of course, he was. Tuvo might scare him, but he knew that the alien male was his best hope for survival.
“Are you really riding him like a horse?” Keith asked, snickering. “You’re going to give him back problems.”
Hattie just shook her head, ignoring him in favor of settling against Tuvo.
She was rewarded with a gentle, rumbling growl, almost like a purr, that made her eyes heavy as the gentle rocking of his steps lulled her into a doze.
The adrenaline crash hit her hard and, before she realized what was happening, she was asleep.