42. Terra #3
Then he said quietly, “I will agree on one condition.”
Terra’s stomach tightened.
“What condition is that?”
“That you understand that this arrangement creates no obligation between us,” he said sternly. “That just because we are planning a Joining ceremony doesn’t mean that you actually have to Join with me.”
Her heart sank a little, but she did her best to keep her expression neutral.
“I understand.”
“You do not owe me affection or physical intimacy,” Taurex went on. “And if at any time you become uncomfortable with what we’re doing, we will stop.”
Terra swallowed hard.
“Okay. That sounds reasonable.”
His expression remained grave.
“I will participate because it protects you from accusations of giving false testimony and because it prevents human authorities from questioning the legitimacy of my defense of your family. But I do not want you to believe that I expect anything beyond that.”
Terra managed a tense smile though inside she was aching. He really did mean it—he didn’t want or expect anything of her. She’d been right when she’d told her mom that she’d hurt him too badly and he was never coming back.
“Of course,” she said quietly. “You’ve made that more than clear.”
For a moment, she wanted to cry. But the idea that she would get to see him again—regularly—sent a small burst of warmth through the ache.
“You need to clear your schedule—we’ll have to go places together,” she said brightly, not showing the hurt inside.
“What places?” He looked mystified.
“All the places you go when you’re planning a wedding,” Terra said patiently. “We’ll have to do a cake tasting, for one.”
Taurex’s ears lifted.
“There will be tasting?”
Terra smiled.
“Yes—that’s part of planning a wedding.”
He nodded.
“I find this arrangement increasingly reasonable.”
Terra laughed.
“And we’ll need to visit a florist. Oh, and I have to try on wedding dresses. Yes—we’re going to be pretty busy for the next few days.”
He nodded gravely.
“I will make time for all of these activities. Anything to make our fake Joining seem more real.”
Terra nodded.
“Good—then we have an agreement—and a fake engagement.” She held out her hand. “Deal?”
Taurex looked down at it…then he took her hand carefully in his.
“Deal,” he rumbled. “Just tell me where to go and when to be there.”
As she looked up into his eyes, Terra couldn’t help thinking how big and warm his hand was wrapped around her own…or remembering the last time they’d been so close on the Monstrum Mother Ship.
Unbidden, the memory of his mouth on her body rose in her mind’s eye. The way he had licked and sucked her nipples and then tasted her between her legs, lapping her pussy until she gripped his horns and moaned his name…
Taurex’s eyes went wide for a moment, and she wondered if he was catching her thoughts, the same way he had the first time they’d met.
“Okay,” she said quickly, pulling her hand out of his. “I’ll plan everything. Don’t worry about it—all you have to do is show up.”
“All right.” He nodded. “I should go.”
The ache of longing returned, and Terra wished she could ask him to stay. But instead, she took a step back and nodded.
“Right. Of course you should.”
He called goodbye to Lucy and the children, which resulted in another round of hugs from Lisa, a fist bump from Cody, and an insistence from Lucy that he come back for dinner soon. Then Terra walked him outside.
Her little silver Honda sat in the driveway and Taurex stared at it with a frown.
Terra followed his gaze and put a hand to her mouth.
“Oh! I forgot I drove you here. Do you want me to drive you back home?” she asked.
He shook his head.
“I barely escaped from your vehicle with both horns intact. I believe I shall walk.”
She laughed.
“You can’t walk all the way back downtown.”
“I can call a transport. I will request an extra-large car to come and get me.”
She nodded.
“Well, that’s probably safer for your horns.”
“Agreed.”
They stood awkwardly beside the driveway for another moment as though neither one of them wanted to say goodbye.
“I’ll call you about the cake tasting,” Terra said at last.
“I look forward to it,” Taurex rumbled, and he looked like he really meant it.
She smiled.
“So do I.”
Taurex hesitated, then he inclined his head.
“Goodnight, Terra.”
“Goodnight.”
He walked toward the street, typing on his phone and Terra watched him go.
She should have felt relieved. The police case was solved—Taurex wasn’t going to prison because they had a plan. And now she had an excuse to spend time with him without having to admit how badly she wanted to do exactly that.
But as the big Monstrum disappeared down the sidewalk and Terra stood alone beneath the streetlights, she looked down at the hand he had held and felt her chest tighten.
A fake engagement…a fake wedding. Fake cake and fake flowers and a fake dress for a ceremony that would never happen.
She had gotten exactly what she needed…but not what she wanted. Somewhere between losing Taurex and finding him again, Terra had begun desperately wishing it could all be real.
But she knew it never could be.