Epilogue
NOELLE
Afamiliar, warm scent tickles my nose. Not coffee… better. I turn my head to see Nikkov propped up on one arm, watching me with that heated expression that sets me afire every time.
“Like something you see?” I flirt.
“Very much. You make it hard to rise from bed.”
“I find that hard to believe. From what I saw last night, no part of you seemed to have any trouble rising… and staying up. I’m pleasantly sore everywhere.”
“Because you are insatiable, sholani.”
“Get used to it, Santa. I don’t think I’ll ever have enough of you.”
A large hand curves down my back and over my ass to play with me. “Another night like that, and leaving for my next mission will be near impossible. GI6 may need ten warriors to drag me off, and even then, they’d fail.”
“Ten to one sounds like bad odds.”
“Never bet against a male fighting to be with his sholani.”
I snuggle closer against him as his other arm pulls me in tight. “I wish you didn’t have to leave.”
“I’m more concerned about leaving you here, alone in a city with gangs and the Brotherhood.”
“You mean to tell me there’s no Brotherhood left on Zyan?”
“I did not say that. But I will worry about you no matter where you are.”
“The area’s safe enough. Besides, I have my gun.”
“If you were injured here while you are alone, no one would know.”
I place my hand on his chest as I climb atop him, the sheets falling to the side. “My fellow agents would look for me. We watch out for each other that way.”
“I do not know these males.”
“I didn’t say they were all males. You already met Donna while working the toy drive. She was my backup.”
“She was not there to protect you when thieves broke in.”
“That was my fault, not hers. I sent her off to well… follow you for a bit. Admittedly, she lost you. Couldn’t find you anywhere.”
“I did not wish to be seen. She is otherwise competent?”
“Yes. Look, Nikkov, we both have to learn not to worry so much when the other’s on a mission. You’ll have to trust me and my team just as I’ll have to trust you and GI6.”
“I trust you.”
“But?”
“I don’t trust the others to protect you as I would.”
“There’s an office party at work. Would meeting the other agents make you feel better?”
“Yes, it will ease my mind to know who you depend on when I’m not here.”
“I depend on myself. I have backup when warranted. Do you? I haven’t seen another zyanthan warrior with you.”
“A valid point. I work alone except in exceedingly high-risk situations.”
He lifts me easily, impaling me with one perfect thrust.
“I will attend this party with you, to see these other agents and learn their worth.”
I’m still not sure introducing him to my co-workers is the best idea, but I don’t want him worrying about me when he’s working. Distraction like that can get an agent killed.
“I will meet the Earth intelligence agents, ensure they are qualified to watch out for you.”
I start moving, finding a rhythm and angle that hits all the right spots. Thoughts of other agents disappear completely when I’m with Nikkov. That’s how quickly and easily I lose myself in him.
When I lean forward and capture his lips, he thrusts his pleasure cock inside me. My body shudders with fire, and when I sink down, he rolls me under him, devouring me completely leaving me boneless, aching for more, always wanting more… with my Nikkov.
From the nightstand, his comm vibrates in three short bursts. “Vekk, I need to take this. High priority.”
I smooth back his hair and circle his horn. “Are you sure?”
“That I want to take it? No. But I must. Three short bursts mean high priority.” With a quick lick of my nipple, he stands and picks up his comm. I dress as he reads, swapping out my usual jeans and sweater for a long, flashy dress, one I kept from my op.
In between reading whatever is on his comm, his eyes fall to me, probably more than they should. His horns curve back and his eyes light. There’s no question. I’m definitely distracting him. I smile, thoroughly enjoying how he loves my curves.
“I must leave tomorrow, sholani.”
“Can’t be that high a priority if you don’t have to leave right away.”
He pulls me in by the waist, ignoring the fact that he’s still naked and his cocks are as hard as ever. “I have a sholani now. Allowances must be made. I told GI6 I can only leave after I ensure your safety here, that I will meet the local Earth Intelligence agents.”
“It’s a party. Nothing that important. You can meet them another time. I don’t want to keep you from your mission.”
He arches a brow. “You do not wish me to meet them?”
“Yes and no. I’m not sure it’s the best place for you, my sholan. Not all humans, even those working in Earth Intelligence, accept aliens. They understand we need them as allies, but that doesn’t mean they wish to socialize with them.”
“We will not go if this is what you wish.”
I think about it for a second. This male, my male, will do anything for me if I ask. How could I not be proud to show him off to people? Damn them and their prejudices. If they don’t accept him, it won’t change a thing between me and Nikkov. Nothing could make me stop loving him.
“We’ll go. And if anyone says a single unkind word to or about you, I’ll punch him in the mouth. Or the nuts.”
Nikkov strokes the knuckles on my right hand. “Do not damage yourself. I can handle myself. But I do love that you want to protect me.” His eyes wander down my torso, heating me. “Keep looking at me like that and we’ll never make it to the party.”
“It’s now?”
“Tonight.”
He lifts me high and swings me around, unzips the dress and tosses it aside. “Then I have plenty of time to claim you…”
Nikkov looks dashing in his warrior clothes.
A leather vest he never bothers to close, and dark brown leather pants to match.
His display of weapons, from his blaster to his knives, tell everyone exactly who he is, even if they couldn’t guess from his horns and tattoos.
I’m wearing a red sequined dress in spiky red heels, the dress that best shows off my assets.
Am I playing with fire, tempting someone else to stare at my breasts in front of Nikkov?
Yes. But he’s right. I do trust him. He won’t start any trouble, but he will finish it.
One by one, I introduce Nikkov, then we hang back, giving him a chance to observe my co-workers, see the type of people they are.
Loud and boisterous, at least at the present, because it’s a party.
Calmly, and quietly, Nikkov enters, one hand on my lower back.
I don’t look, but I suspect his other hand is near his blaster, or one of his knives.
His eyes narrow as he observes and assesses.
“Let’s head over there, toward the food table. I’m starved.”
When we step beneath the archway, Parker yells, “Mistle—”
Something hard knocks me to the floor. It takes me a second to realize it’s my warrior. His hand cushions the back of my head, protecting it from hitting the cement floor, and his body covers mine like a blanket.
“What the fuck, Nikkov?”
“You’re in danger. There’s a missile.”
“Missile?” I stare up at several of my fellow agents who freeze mid-laugh, no doubt wondering if they’ve broken some intergalactic protocol, or worse, offended me.
“Language issue, Snow?” Parker’s voice holds a note of caution, a moment before he steps forward and offers me a hand up, even though I’m still trapped beneath Nikkov.
“Fuck off, Parker.”
His tone softens, even as I refuse his hand and he withdraws. “You need to teach your warrior the basics if he’s gonna be living here.”
My eyes find Nikkov again, who’s still shielding me with his body.
“Not a real missile, my sholan.” I stroke his right horn, which is fully erect as he’s on high alert.
“It’s a tradition during Christmas to hang sprigs of a plant called mistletoe, then announce it when a couple walks beneath it.
” I point up to the white berry-laden mistletoe with a red ribbon adorning the archway.
“We walked under it, so we’re supposed to kiss. ”
He helps me to my feet. “The male is right. I must continue learning your traditions.” Without warning, my warrior kisses me.
A kiss that goes on and on, until I no longer hear the cheers, laughter, and jokes surrounding us.
I don’t know why I was nervous. The other agents are fine with Nikkov being here.
And Nikkov, he’s wonderful, tolerant, and eager to become a part of my life.
“I like this tradition,” he says, when we finally break the kiss.
“So do I.” I tug at his leather pants. “But I think it’s time you teach me some zyanthan traditions.”
“We do not have Christmas.”
“Any traditions, my sholan. Anything that you find important and worth experiencing.”
“You will come to Zyan with me one day?”
“Yes! I’d love to. I want to know you, and anyone and anything that is a part of you. I want it all… with you.”
Nikkov reaches up and frees the mistletoe from the ceiling. “We should hang this over our bed.”
“I don’t think I need any reminders to kiss you, especially there.”
“But I like seeing it. It reminds me of this party, and the people who have spent as much time assessing me as I have them.”
“That doesn’t annoy you?”
“Why should it? It means they care about you, and want to ensure I’m not a threat. These are the people I want around you when I am not by your side. People who will watch over you.”
I slide my hands around his waist and lean my head on his chest. “It’s not the same as having you here.”
“Which is why I plan to push GI6 for more assignments on Earth.”
“I like that.”
“Anything for you, my sholani.”
His forehead presses against mine. “This is a zyanthan tradition reserved for close family only.”
He’s done this before, and I never understood why until now.
It’s nice, intimate in a way that’s different from making love.
Perhaps that’s what draws me to Nikkov so much, knowing how he makes even the smallest things in life special, precious.
We have our entire lives ahead of us, and I know mine will be full of adventure and love, because at long last, I’ve found my heartmate.