Chapter Twenty-Nine #2
He caught the vial midair when I tossed it, snapping the tip off one end and pushing it into the chunk of meat. Upending the vial, he waited what seemed an appropriate time to let the serum drain into the meat before pulling it out.
I had to hope the medication was truly in it, and that it would help.
Rhydek plugged the chunk the way he had said he would and placed it atop the others before returning to his place on the wall. I tossed the last piece I held to Zharrek before walking over to collect the rest, my heart fluttering in my chest.
I only had one chance.
“Can you give him the blood when I make him back away from the door?”
I could have done it, but I knew it would make Rhydek feel better if I kept my distance.
Rhydek nodded and grabbed the bucket as I went back to working with Zharrek.
I started getting him to catch the chunks midair before tossing him the one with the medicine, and I smiled in relief when he swallowed it without any sign of noticing it was different.
I had to turn away so he didn’t think I was challenging him by baring my teeth until I got my grin under control.
Once I’d finished feeding him all the meat and Rhydek had poured the blood into the trough on the other side of the bars, I decided to linger to get Zharrek familiar with my presence and voice.
Sitting in the middle of the path, I started talking, telling him about the dogs I used to work with since I couldn’t think of anything else.
Rhydek leaned against the wall once more, attention never wavering.
I had no idea how long I sat talking to the varku, but I never got a sense of boredom or irritation from Rhydek.
I still felt him, so I knew he hadn’t blocked the bond, but I couldn’t figure out how he wasn’t going crazy just standing there watching me.
Eventually I decided it had been long enough.
Rhydek seemed fine with me staying as long as I wanted, but Zharrek had started ignoring me and had settled down to chew the leg bone I’d tossed inside once the meat was gone.
He still coughed, occasionally hawking mucus into the sand, but I thought maybe he wasn’t doing it as often.
I told myself my mind could just be making me believe what I wanted and that I shouldn’t get my hopes up, but it was hard not to. Just as it was hard not to feel grateful to the massive male at my side as we walked back towards his home.
My home, because I was tied to him and Morrakan forever.
The thought made me pause on the stairs down to the River Cavern.
I hadn’t been sure I’d ever feel at home on Morrakan, that I’d always miss Earth and my family too much, but I realized that was starting to change.
Things were shifting, and while I still felt guilt over leaving my family behind, a bubble of hope was beginning to grow for more than just Zharrek’s future.
Rhydek watched me in silence as I stood there, figuring out how I felt as others passed by. He didn’t ask what I was doing, or urge me to keep going. His curiosity leaked into my chest, mixed with a hint of concern, but he let me have the time to think without pushing for answers.
And that was another reason I was willing to hope. He might have denied it, but his actions always pointed towards there being a chance.
And I was stubborn enough to keep prodding him until he gave in.
“Can we stop at the Market after our bath?”
The abrupt question had his brows furrowing, his head tipping like he was trying to read my mind, and I couldn’t help smiling. That confused him more, and my huff of laughter made it worse.
“If you need something, I can have Reyla get it while we bathe so you can go rest.”
Shaking my head, I moved down to the step above the one he stood on so we were almost the same height. I placed a hand on his chest, over the new marking where I’d bitten him that partially showed in the gap where his uniform crossed.
“No, I want to get something for the house. The only decorations you have are weapons hanging on the walls. I want to add things to make it feel… cozier.”
The flare of his kethra was the only warning before a wave of lust rolled into me. I didn’t know why what I’d said affected him that way, but it didn’t matter. My body responded, nipples hardening and slick wetting my thighs, and I swayed towards him before I could stop myself.
“Fucking me in front of your warriors might not be a problem, but I think we’d be in the way right here. Plus, I’m sweaty and have blood under my nails.”
My words came out breathy, revealing my reaction to him even if he hadn’t been able to feel how I’d responded. The way his tail and arms wrapped around me, pulling me against his hard chest didn’t help, and I knew I was soaking through my pants.
The ones already smear with the cum that had leaked out of me.
“I don’t care about any of that. You’re my omega, I’ll rut you in the middle of a council meeting if I want to.”
His lips were covering mine before I could say anything else, but the way my core pulsed couldn’t be denied.
I’d never thought I’d be into exhibitionism, but knowing there had been other warriors around us as he’d fucked me at the training grounds had me at the edge before he’d even seated himself inside me, and the possessiveness that had filled my chest when he’d covered my mouth to keep me quiet had driven my orgasm higher.
I hadn’t realized I’d wrapped myself around him until he let me come up for air, moving his lips and tongue to my neck. My legs were around his waist, his erection rubbing against my center with each step he took as he rushed us down to the river.
I should have been embarrassed since there were others on the stairs, but I was too focused on what he was doing to care. Each brush over the place he’d bitten me sent an electric current straight to my clit, and I tightened my legs to grind against him.
If sex was the best way to keep Rhydek close and convince him we could work, it wasn’t a hardship, and my body was completely on board. I’d sometimes gone years between partners, but even before my heat, I’d begun to crave him. To want him.
And my mark on his chest said he was mine, so I was going to take what I wanted.