Chapter 3 #3
Priya laughed. The sound struck me harder in person than it ever had through the training recordings. Open. Warm. Unrestrained. I wanted to be the reason she laughed like that. I wanted many things involving Priya. Desires that grew more and more difficult to ignore.
Jamie looked at me. Then at the mark on Priya’s neck. Her grin returned. “Vesh, you actually left base to collect her yourself. Somebody alert the historians.”
“I leave the base frequently.”
“For enemy territory. Not women.”
“She is an Elite Starfighter.”
“Sure, big guy. I'm sure that's all she is.”
Priya laughed again. I was going to strangle Jamie Miller. Alexius met my gaze and smiled. He knew I would never harm his female.
“Starfighter Anand needs rest,” I said.
“Translation,” Jamie told Priya. “He wants to get you alone.”
Oh, fuck. Did these females have to say every single thought that came into their heads? And was Jamie laughing at me?
Jamie winked at me and turned to face Priya. “Fine. Go. But come find me tomorrow. We have years of gossip to catch up on.”
Priya hugged her once more. “Deal.”
Bonded pairs received shared quarters. Regulation. Nothing more. I repeated that fact during the entire walk from the docking bay.
Our new quarters had a common room, food unit, bathing chamber, and two bedrooms connected by a single door.
I showed Priya how to order food and operate the shower.
She absorbed each instruction with the same concentration she gave an approach vector.
Her stomach growled while I demonstrated the food unit.
Priya pressed one hand over it. “Apparently, interstellar travel makes me hungry.”
“You have not eaten since your shift began.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Was that in my file, too?”
“I watched you through the tower cameras before entering. You had coffee. No food.”
“You were spying on me.”
“I was assessing the situation.”
“Through eleven floors of armed security.”
“The pathetic human security was not sufficient to keep you safe."
My beautiful bondmate snorted. “Hollis is going to be deeply offended when he wakes up.”
I ordered a standard meal. Roasted meat, root vegetables, and flatbread appeared inside the unit. Priya leaned closer. “That looks almost normal.”
“It is food.”
“Thank you for clearing that up.”
I ordered a second portion and carried both to the low table. She sat across from me, tried the meat, and made a pleased sound that went directly to my cock. Eating with her was a mistake. Watching her lick sauce from her lower lip was torture.
“This is good,” she said. “What is it?”
I told her. The translator provided the Earth equivalent. Priya stopped chewing. “I am eating something called a rock lizard?”
“A large rock lizard.” I took another bite. Savored the rich flavor. "The small breeds can be chewy and bitter."
“That does not improve the fact that I'm eating a lizard right now.”
“You said it was good.”
She considered the meat, then took another bite. “I guess humans eat alligator, too. Still, I stand by my original assessment. Tastes good. Just don’t show me a picture.”
I ate faster so I could stop watching her mouth. It did not help.
“Clothing will be delivered in the morning,” I said. “Uniforms and standard garments.”
She looked down at her wrinkled work clothes. “Good. Because I didn’t plan for an alien abduction when I got dressed today.”
“You were not abducted.”
“I know. I resigned first. Very responsible of me.”
I pointed toward the larger bedroom. “You will sleep there. I will take the smaller room. The connecting door locks from your side.”
“Why would I lock it?”
“For privacy.”
“There are two doors.”
“For security.”
“From what?”
Me. “The base is unfamiliar.”
“The base isn’t on the other side of that door. You are.”
“Exactly.”
Priya crossed her arms beneath her breasts. A terrible position for my concentration.
“You held me all the way here,” she said.
“You were unconscious.”
“There were restraints in the transit bay.”
I said nothing.
“You could have put me down.”
“Your response to the implant required monitoring.”
“Bullshit again.”
I was beginning to dislike that word. Priya stepped closer. The bond warmed. Her dark eyes searched mine with the same focus she used on a radar screen.
“I’m not afraid of you, Vesh.”
“You should exercise caution around unknown warriors.”
“You’re not unknown. I’ve flown with you for a year.”
“A simulation of me.”
“The real version is grumpier. Otherwise, the match is pretty close.”
“Priya.”
“If you want the door locked, you lock it.
I'm not afraid of you. And, for the record, I like you.
A lot. We're bondmates, whatever that means.
But it sounds permanent. So, I guess what I'm saying is I wouldn't kick you out of bed, if you decided to join me.” She walked into the larger bedroom and turned at the connecting door. “Good night, Vesh.”
“Good night.”
She closed the door. Did not lock it. I stood in the common room staring at the unlocked panel like it was an enemy bomb I had not been trained to disarm. Eventually, I went to my own bed. I did not lock the door, either.
Then I lay awake for three hours listening to Priya breathe on the other side.
This pair bond was going to kill me.