Chapter 4 #3
“I didn’t mean to insinuate that you wouldn’t provide for me, Draevan.
Thank you for offering to pay for the shipping costs.
I truly appreciate your generosity.” Should she tell him just how wealthy she was?
Or would it wound his pride even more if he learned she possessed more money than him?
She decided to keep quiet about it for now just in case.
Maybe once they got to know one another better, she could finally come clean and tell him about her wildly successful career.
To her relief, Draevan now appeared more relaxed. He glanced around the open area of the penthouse with a curious look. “Where is this baby grand piano?” he asked in a cordial tone that filled her with relief.
Whew. Thank goodness. The last thing she wanted to do was get into an argument with her new mate about money during their very first interaction.
“It’s in my music room,” she replied. “Follow me.” She hoisted Meela higher on her hip and proceeded toward the music room.
She really hoped Draevan’s prideful desire to take care of her completely wasn’t a red flag.
She hoped it didn’t mean he would be controlling or overbearing.
Doubts started to creep in, but she quickly reminded herself that he’d insisted her money was hers to keep.
And if things ever went wrong between them, to the point that their relationship was beyond repair, she would have the resources to fund an escape from New Vaxx.
Well… maybe.
She thought about the protective shield that surrounded New Vaxx, the one that the documentary insisted would keep the planet well-protected from any enemies.
Did it also work to keep the residents, particularly the women, from escaping?
This idea left a ball of worry in her stomach, especially when she remembered the disclaimer on the VAMOB application: Vaxxlians mate for life.
Trying to push her doubts about the Vaxxlian warrior and his people aside, Cora entered her music room and approached the piano. She stood beside it and turned toward Draevan.
“This is it,” she said. “As you can see, it’s rather large. And it needs to be packed in a certain way, so it doesn’t get damaged. My father bought this for me just before…” Her voice trailed off as a sense of vulnerability swept through her.
“Your father bought this for you just before… what?” Draevan asked gently. As he stepped closer, his eyes flashed with compassion, as though he knew about her secret heartache.
“Just before he died,” she finished. “He had something called pancreatic cancer. I don’t know if that’s a disease Vaxxlians can get, so perhaps you’ve never heard of it.
It happened so quickly. One day he felt fine, and the next day he had severe back pain and no appetite whatsoever.
After he was diagnosed, he died only two months later.
” She drew in a shaky breath. “My mom passed away when I was a toddler. I barely remember her. So it was just my dad that raised me. He was wonderful. I miss him.” She wasn’t sure why she was telling Draevan so many personal details.
They’d just met. Shouldn’t they proceed slowly as they got to know one another…
a fact here and a fact there rather than her revealing the saddest thing that had ever happened in her life during the first few minutes of their acquaintance?
Draevan put a hand on her shoulder. As he stood close to her, Meela reached for him and grabbed hold of his shirt, though she kept her other arm firmly around Cora’s midsection.
Cora couldn’t look away from the alien warrior.
Her neck ached as she peered up at him, but rather than feel intimidated by his size, she was starting to feel safe in his presence.
They’d had a few misunderstandings so far, but he hadn’t done anything to scare her, nor had he treated her with any cruelty.
He gently squeezed her shoulder, a simple gesture that moved her.
“I am sorry about your father, Cora. I am also saddened to learn what happened to your mother. It is not an easy thing to lose one’s parents.
It’s a pain that never goes away. Sometimes it fades, but it’s always there, a wound that won’t quite heal.
” He glanced at Meela with a look of concern before returning his gaze to Cora.
“Thank you for your kind words, Draevan,” she said, though it was a struggle to speak when her throat was burning so fiercely.
God, she hoped she didn’t break down crying.
How embarrassing that would be in front of Draevan…
but also, she didn’t want to scare or upset Meela.
She blinked fast as she tried to get her emotions under control.
“Since the piano needs to be packed carefully, I will hire a shipping company I’ve worked with before, one I am certain will take great care of it. It might take a moon cycle, or possibly a little longer, before it arrives on New Vaxx, but I promise it will reach your new home undamaged.”
Her new home…
She smoothed a hand through Meela’s soft, dark hair as she stared at the alien warrior who would soon become her mate. “Thank you, Draevan. Truly.”