16. Prove Me Wrong
SIXTEEN
PROVE ME WRONG
Syasku
Some of my strength returns, and as Vivian and I toss the bag back and forth, I drink my fill of the water, craving the liquid in every way possible.
On Earth, my nest was surrounded by water. I swam daily and caught most of my food within the reeds. I enjoyed my time on and off the land, and since my capture, swimming is what I miss the most.
When I crush one of the pods over my face, enjoying the splash of liquid across my cheeks and the trickling down my chest and back, Vivian’s expression is a mixture of curiosity and confusion.
I toss the bag back to her. Surprising me, she takes off her jacket and pops a water pod over her face.
Hunger fills me as the water cascades over her cheeks and catches in her hair and clothes. With no pain to distract me, my desire intensifies. As I battle the muscles that keep it closed, my prick engorges and pushes hard against my slit. Seed expands my knot, worsening my torment, and I regret indulging with the water.
Groaning, I close my eyes, and when I reopen them she is watching me.
Her mouth is open and her cheeks are red. She’s staring at where my prick bulges from my tail as her breath quickens. Looking away, she shifts and clamps her legs together, but not before her arousal reaches me across the room. Thicker than it has ever been, my appendage jerks.
Intoxicated with need, a hiss rumbles from my chest.
She adjusts her position again, glancing at me, then away to the door, just to glance right back.
“I want you to be my mate,” I rasp, telling her what she thinks I owe her. “Is that what you needed to hear?” I ask when she remains silent.
Her eyes shift to my face. “Yes.”
“I can smell you, female,” I murmur, “even from over here.”
Her discomfort is evident, and her cheeks flush red before she covers them with her hands. “I don’t want to know that.”
I lift one of mine and offer it to her again. “I will not hurt you. If I wanted to, I would have already done so.” I wait, frozen in place as she decides, her uneasy shuffling and apprehension apparent.
It has been hours.
I want her back in my arms. There is only so much I can learn about her from across a room.
“This isn’t…” She stares at my hand, going silent once more.
“I did not want to tell you,” I admit.
“Because you think I’m too weak to handle the truth?”
“You are weak.”
Her lips flatten and her nostrils flare. “Well, you’re unlikeable.”
Tilting my head, I agree with that. “It is the truth.” I flick my finger. “Now tell me what you wissssh to say.”
She sighs and runs a hand through her hair, her gaze briefly straying to my middle where my slit is again.
“I… We can’t,” her voice lowers to a whisper. “I wasn’t a good choice. You should have picked one of the others.” To my surprise, longing fills her eyes. My lips pull back slightly, baring my fangs.
She is not afraid to show me that she wants me…
Her eyes flick to my middle then back to my face, her cheeks reddening further, her nervous squirming worsening. “We’re being watched .” She groans at the end of her words like she is in disbelief for entertaining the idea.
But I scent the sharp sweetness of her slick and know she is at least considering it. I grit my teeth, holding in a raspy hiss. My gaze roves over her, checking that she is regaining her strength.
She stares at me waiting for me to respond, and it is then I notice a desperation in her expression that was not there before.
I stiffen, narrowing my eyes.
She wants me to convince her.
Stretching my hand out toward her again, I goad her to take it and brave me a second time. Will she do it?
“What did you and Ursula talk about?” she whispers, her gaze flicking between me and my hand.
“You,” I admit, my voice lowering. “I told her if you are taken from me, I will kill her.”
With her eyes fixated on mine, hers begin shimmering, gleaming with unshed tears. There is a loneliness in them I have not seen before.
She needs me as much as I want her.
Something within me softens. My female should never have a reason to cry.
She slowly stands and takes a step forward.
Like the last time, I cease to breathe.
Each of Vivian’s steps lingers like an eternity. With each step, I fear she will come to her senses. Yet without pausing, she walks into range once more. But before she can take my hand, I lunge and grab her, pulling her to me.
She stiffens but does not fight me, and crossing my chains over her back, I pick her up. I take her back to my wall where I can wind my limbs around her.
Her hands grasp my arms, and her body shudders, bringing on a sudden desperation of my own.
“I will prove to you I am a good mate.” I run my hands all over her, trying to touch her everywhere while at the same time ensuring she is real, finding she is warm and pliable, and so very precious. I pull over the blanket and slide it over her shoulders, hiding her away from prying eyes.
“You don’t even know me,” she says, her voice softer than a whisper.
“And yet you are in my arms, female. Do you know me?”
“I think I know your character… I hope I do. But you said so yourself, I’m weak.”
I sigh, except it comes out more like another growl. “It is simple. I want you and will have more of your kindness. You are the only one I want to nest with. There is no other reason. Should there be? I am selfish, as you now know, and you smell sweet and need protection. I have waited a lifetime to protect you.” Could I be more plain?
She eases into me and rests her head on my chest. Alternating between stroking and clutching her, I revel in the moment.
I am selfish.
There is no guilt festering inside me when I bury my face in her hair.
“I will be your mate,” she breathes over my chest.
My scales rise. Hearing words I never thought I would hear ends up being a dream and a nightmare at the same time. Tucking Vivian closer, I look around at the room, considering how long we have and if it will be enough.
It will never be enough.
Feeling eyes on me, I stiffen and peer around the room once more.
Pausing my petting, my hands settle on her back as I search the view pane for onlookers, discerning a faint form behind it. I glare at it, letting them know I am aware that they are there. A hiss surges from my throat.
Vivian pushes against me. Raising the blanket, I take in her expectant expression with an agonized grunt. She squirms, confusion entering her eyes.
I shake my head in warning, flicking my eyes above and in the direction of the view pane, and stiffening herself, her brows furrow.
Refusing to allow another to distract me from this moment, I loosen my throat and soften my hissing, coaxing Vivian to relax back into my arms. Fighting it at first, she eases against me, soon settling her cheek on my chest.
Her breathing deepens.
She does not want anyone to watch, and neither do I.
Settling back, and adjusting her against me under the blanket, I rest with her until we are alone once more.
We will have our moment then.