Chapter 17
Zharina
As the hour drew late, I marched over to the holodeck where Gavin was once more spending a ridiculous amount of time training with his fellow Braxians.
The moment I entered the room, my gaze zeroed in on my mate lifting Curok as if he weighed nothing, before slamming him down on the padded floor.
The six other massive males were also sparring in pairs, although the lines occasionally blurred into a semi all-out brawl.
“Enough!” I shouted, as Curok was jumping back on his feet.
Startled by the sound of my voice, Gavin jerked his head towards me just as his opponent was throwing his fist at him.
It hadn’t been an underhanded attack. The timing simply sucked.
Despite catching the movement in his peripheral vision and attempting to dodge, my poor man still got solidly struck on the side of his jaw.
He turned to glare at Curok with a murderous look that would have liquefied anyone else’s innards. But the wretch merely raised his palms in surrender with a shit-eating grin.
“That’s enough training for you tonight,” I said to Gavin as I closed the distance with him. “You need your rest.”
Gavin made a face at me as if he’d just bitten into something foul. But before he could argue, his companions started mocking him.
“Ooh, is it nap time, big boy?” Vintor taunted.
“Nah, he’s just past his curfew. He’s not allowed to stay outside past 8:00,” Brenor said mockingly.
“Actually, it’s more like he’s probably whipped,” Nolar quipped.
“Fuck off! I’ll flatten you all tomorrow,” Gavin growled.
His companions snickered, totally unfazed even though they knew he not only could but also probably would.
“Come on. Get moving!” I said with false severity.
Still grimacing with annoyance, he complied, glaring as he fell in step with me.
“I need to get back in shape,” he grumbled as we exited the holodeck.
“You already are,” I countered.
“You’re still healing me. So clearly I’m not fully recovered,” he argued.
“I’m not healing you. That part is done.
I just help you speed up the process of rebuilding your muscle mass.
You’re fully healed now. Not only that, but I also regularly review your performance levels.
And they are top tier,” I replied as if speaking to a difficult child who stubbornly refused to accept reality.
“But I could do better with more training,” he whined.
I rolled my eyes. “Everyone can always do better. Improvement is a lifelong commitment. Considering you were spanking your companions, you really have nothing to complain about.”
“I always spank them,” he replied haughtily, sounding almost offended that I would imply the contrary could even be a possibility.
“See?! Then stop whining,” I said mockingly as we reached our quarters.
Still grumpy, Gavin opened the door and let me in before following me inside.
“But I—”
“No buts,” I said, interrupting him as I turned to face him, my fists on my hips. “Whatever happened to not challenging each other’s authority in our respective fields?”
He huffed. “I didn’t challenge you publicly. We’re in private.”
“Fair,” I conceded with a mischievous expression. “But I’m still right.”
To my surprise, instead of making a face at me, Gavin took a vulnerable expression.
“I just don’t want to fail my first official mission,” he said in a subdued voice.
I recoiled. “You won’t fail! You’re only meeting with the Divine.”
“No, I’m not talking about that. I mean I don’t want to fail your brother,” he corrected.
I closed the distance between us and wrapped my arms around his waist. He reciprocated the gesture, making me feel cocooned and protected.
“You won’t,” I said reassuringly. “Don’t forget that the Oracles have said that we were going where we needed to be.”
He heaved a sigh and nodded.
“I know. But I just want to make you proud.”
“Oh, Goddess! You silly male!” I exclaimed.
“You already are! For the record, everything you told Vahl in his room before our departure applies to you. I don’t need my ability to see the Tuning between souls to know that I always would have fallen in love with you.
When I was trapped in the pit on Talabor, I felt safe the moment I saw you. ”
His eyes flicked between mine, searching, as if he needed confirmation and reassurance.
That totally boggled my mind. He always acted so strong and confident, you would never guess at the vulnerability lurking beneath.
Then again, I also struggled with my own insecurities.
But people around me always thought that I was fearless and undaunted.
Their minds would be blown away if they realized I was just as freaked out about our future as Vahl was.
“You also need to remember that Vahleryon didn’t choose you for me.
He picked you as his First Officer because you also make him feel safe.
You’re exactly who Fate wanted for us. So don’t worry about failing, because you won’t.
Will we have setbacks? Absolutely. Everyone does. But we will overcome them together.”
He nodded again, this time with a sheepish expression. I smiled, cupped his face with both hands, and lifted my face to rub my nose against his.
“Now let me bump those muscles a bit more for you, and then you can show me how much stamina you’ve recovered,” I said mischievously.
“Gladly,” he purred, his gaze darkening. “After all, I recall saying something about not challenging you when it comes to healing.”
I snorted at his shamelessness and drew his face towards mine to claim his lips.
He drew me against him, and I melted against his strong body.
By the Goddess, how I loved the way he always held me so gently with those muscular arms that could crush me to a pulp!
I purred at the delightful feel of his tongue caressing mine.
“I’m all sweaty,” Gavin protested reluctantly against my lips as he broke the kiss.
“Then off to the shower we go,” I quipped. “Strip!”
He chuckled and bowed his head in submission at my commanding tone.
While he swiftly removed his training outfit, I took my sweet time, wiggling out of my dress uniform.
I shook the hem, sliding it up just enough to give him a glimpse of my panties before jerking it back down.
Then I gyrated my hips in the sensuous movement of our traditional Veredian dances as I pivoted to face away from him.
I bent down just enough to partially moon him and wiggled my butt as I peered tauntingly at him over my shoulder.
He growled and bared his teeth in a menacing way that tickled my clit.
Gharah’s blood! He hadn’t even touched me, and I was already throbbing and getting wet.
Slipping my hands under my skirt, I grabbed the waist of my thongs and lowered them.
Right on cue, Gavin lunged forward to grab me.
Having anticipated the move, I straightened and smacked the back of his hand before he could reach my waist.
“Tsk, tsk! I said shower!” I ordered, pointing a stern finger towards the bathroom.
He made a face at me, removed his underpants and tossed them on the floor with false anger.
It took every ounce of my willpower to keep a commanding expression on my face at the sight of his glorious cock already standing at attention.
As he turned to walk away, I couldn’t resist the urge to smack his scrumptious behind.
He could have easily dodged, but my mate liked a bit of pain.
Above all, he just liked me touching him in every possible way.
He entered the bathroom and made a beeline for the particle shower.
As with many long-range vessels—especially military ones—they didn’t offer water showers as it required too many resources for larger crews.
Although not as enjoyable, they were quick and efficient, with the added benefit of not needing to dry yourself after the fact.
With our insanely long hair, it could take forever to dry it.
I swiftly discarded my clothes and rushed to the bathroom after him.
Standing in the doorway, I rested my palms on the inside of the frame and moved my body in a provocative fashion.
Gavin grinned, his golden eyes darkening as he greedily looked at me.
And then he started singing. I instantly recognized the traditional Braxian song that their females usually performed erotic dances to for the pleasure of their mates.
Gavin had an amazing voice. Honestly, he could have made a successful career out of it.
Considering what a talented singer and performer his mother was, it didn’t take a genius to know where he got it from.
Even as he sang, he also started swaying but in the sensuous fashion of the Veredians.
Aside from their females’ erotic performances, his people didn’t dance per se.
They certainly didn’t do so as a couple.
The males only had the warrior dance Gavin and his companions displayed for us on their acceptance day at the training camp.
Lured by his hypnotic movements, I continued to dance to the sound of his voice while closing the distance between us.
By the time I was in front of him, my nipples were painfully hard, and I was throbbing in all the right places.
Gavin placed his hands on my behind, drawing my pelvis against his.
We swayed for a few more moments, his hands greedily exploring my body.
Mine did as well, although I sprinkled some of my healing in the mix to further buff his muscles.
Gavin tilted his head back as I leaned forward to cover his neck with kisses. The vibration from his singing tickled my lips in the most pleasant fashion.