9. The Bond
9
The Bond
I nstead, I allowed myself the gift of studying her, my eyes tracing the lines of her face, the curve of her cheeks, the fullness of her lips. The cascade of black filaments that grew out of her head were particularly fascinating. I reached out a finger slowly, giving her plenty of time to pull back if she wished. She tensed but didn't move away. Gently, I touched a strand of her long black filaments, marveling at its softness.
Her breath hitched as my fingers made contact, but she didn't pull away. Emboldened, I let my hand slide down the length of the fascinating strands, feeling its texture. It was unlike anything I'd ever touched before, soft and silky, yet strong.
As I explored her filaments, she reached out a hand, her fingers tentatively touching one of my tentacles. I felt a jolt of sensation at her touch, something electric and primal. Her fingers were warm, her touch gentle yet firm. She traced the length of my tentacle, and around each small suction cup, her eyes filled with wonder.
"Soft," she said, her voice barely a whisper. I wasn't sure what the word meant, but the way she said it, the look in her eyes, sent a shiver of pleasure through me.
I wanted to touch her, to feel more of her. I reached out another tentacle, slowly, giving her time to retreat if she wished remembering her first reaction to the touch of my tentacles. She watched me, her breath catching slightly, but she didn't move away. Gently, I touched her cheek, the tip of my appendage tracing the curve of her jaw. Her skin was so soft, so warm. I felt a low rumble building in my chest, a sound I'd never made before.
Her eyes widened at the sound, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she leaned into my touch, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment. The scent of her filled my nostrils, a sweet, intoxicating aroma that set my senses on fire.
I let my hand slide down her neck, feeling the pulse of her lifeblood beneath her skin. Her single heart was racing, but she didn't seem afraid. When her eyes met mine, I saw something there, something that sent a surge of heat through my entire body like lava.
Her hand reached up, touching my face. Her fingers traced the lines of my ridges, sending sparks of sensation through me. I felt my ridges pulsing with color, responding to her touch. She seemed fascinated by them, her eyes following the play of light across my skin.
"Bu-ti-ful," she breathed, her voice filled with awe. I didn't know the word, but the way she said it, the look in her eyes, told me all I needed to know.
Her fingers then copied mine, tracing the line of my jaw, then slid down my neck, sending shivers of pleasure through me. I let my tentacles join in the exploration, wrapping gently around her waist, feeling the curve of her hips. She gasped at the contact, her eyes flying open, but she didn't pull away.
I pulled her closer, my senses filled with her. Her scent, her warmth, the feel of her body pressed against mine. It was intoxicating, overwhelming. I felt a surge of something primal, something possessive. She was mine, my mate. The realization hit me like a bolt of lightning, sudden and undeniable.
But how could that be? She was a different species, a different world. And yet, the feeling was there, strong and unyielding. I wanted to claim her, to make her mine in every way possible. But I couldn't, not yet. Not until I knew she felt it too, not until I knew she understood what it meant.
Reluctantly, I pulled away, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Her eyes were wide, her cheeks flushed, her lips parted. She looked as affected as I felt, but I couldn't be sure. Not yet.
I stood up, my body trembling with the effort of restraint. Her eyes followed me, a question in their depths. I wanted to stay, to explore this connection further, but I knew I had to go. I had to think, to process what this meant.
"I... have to go," I said, knowing she couldn't understand me. I pointed to the door, then to myself. "I'll be back."
She watched me, her eyes filled with questions. I wanted to reassure her, to tell her what I was feeling, but I couldn't. Not yet. I turned and left the room, the door sliding shut behind me with a finality that felt like a physical blow.
I leaned against the wall outside her quarters, my body shaking with the force of my emotions. What had just happened? I'd never felt anything like this before, never experienced this kind of connection, this kind of need. It was overwhelming, terrifying, exhilarating.
I made my way back to my quarters, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. I needed time to process, to think. But every time I tried to focus, my mind filled with images of Nova. Her eyes, her smile, her touch. I could still feel her, still smell her, still taste her on my lips.
I paced the length of my room, my tentacles writhing with agitation. What was I going to do? I couldn't sell her, not now. The thought of anyone else touching her, owning her, sent a surge of rage through me. She was mine, my mate. But how could I claim her? How could I make her understand?
Frustration built within me, a growl rumbling in my chest. I lashed out, my tentacle striking the wall with a resounding thud. The impact left a dent in the metal—proof of the force of my emotions.
I sank down onto my bed, my head in my hands. I needed to calm down, to think rationally. But all I could think about was Nova. Her touch, her scent, her taste. I needed her, needed to be with her, to make her mine.
But I couldn't, not until I knew she felt the same. Not until I knew she understood what it meant to be mates. Kraxing Hells! Not until I knew it was even possible between our kinds. Maybe it had simply been too long since we'd made a stop at a pleasure planet. Even as the words danced across my mind however, I knew they rang false. Every instinct I had screamed 'Mate'. But I had to figure out the hows and whys and, I had to find a way to communicate with the little human. Truly communicate.
Determination filled me, a resolve growing stronger in my chest than anything I'd ever felt before. I would find a way to communicate with her, to make her understand. I would claim her as my mate, and I would never let her go.
I needed to understand this bond between us. Mating bonds were the stuff of legends with my people. They were rare and I've never heard of an inter-species bond. Our people had few couples in general. We were raised in groups of hatchlings by caregivers, most of us having little contact with the 'mother' and 'father' that conceived us. The few exceptions were the fated mates who raised their young together in nuclear family households.
On the surface, these families were derided as weird and old-fashioned, however, if pressed, many of us had to admit that it was a fantasy we held. My own parents had not been mates, and I'd had only minimal contact with them—mostly on high holidays—so I had no reference of knowledge to draw on personally. Thinking about it further, no one on my ship had parental units that were bonded mates. And that meant seeking answers that could only be found in one place.
I stood up, steely resolve firming my backbone. I would go to see Zalira, a Xialith priestess who had stowed away on my ship one day and never left. And what could I do? One didn't naysay someone as ancient and powerful as she was.
I knew if anyone could explain what was happening between Nova and myself, it would be Zalira. Now I just had to find her. Grixxa and I often joked she could render herself invisible because if she wasn't in the mood to be found, she wouldn't be.
Somehow, though, the ancient priestess always showed up when you were in real need of her counsel, so I could hope I would be able to find her soon. I didn't want to wait much longer, however, so I needed some help. Grixxa was the only one I could think that I could trust with this information.
I blew out a large breath. Grixxa was one of my oldest friends but I knew I was going to have to deal with her smart mouth when she heard why we needed to seek out Zalira.
I left my quarters, making my way to the bridge, determined to get the ribbing over with as soon as possible so we could begin the hunt. As I expected, Grixxa was there, her eyes gleaming with curiosity as she saw me approach. She knew something was up, she always did.
"Grixxa," I said, my voice steady with resolve. "I need you to help me with something."
She cocked her head, her crystalline eyes reflecting the glow of the console lights. "Of course, Captain."
"Lyra, you have the bridge," I commanded as I motioned for Grixxa to join me in a small anteroom off the bridge for some privacy. Grixxa's ridges flashed a purple of surprise but she quickly rose from her station to follow me.
"What's happening, Zhar?" she asked as soon as the door had slid shut.
"I need you to help me find Zalira." I leaned against the edge of the desk in the room, crossing my arms over my chest, trying to project nonchalance.
Grixxa's mouth opened, snapped shut, then opened again. "Why do we need to find Zalira?"
I scuffed a boot along the metallic floor. "I have some questions."
My friend rolled her eyes and her ridges flared an irritated orange. "Yes, Zharrox. I gathered that. But what questions?"
"About the bond."
Grixxa's forehead ridges deepened in confusion. "What bond?"
Before I could answer, her brow ridges lifted and her mouth dropped open again in understanding. "The mating bond?" she whispered.
My tentacles ran over my chest ridges as I nodded, afraid to say the words out loud.
"You and the alien? How do you...? What...?"
"I don't know, Grixxa. That's why I need to talk to Zalira," I admitted.
"Zhar, you didn't..."
I shook my hands fiercely. "No, no, nothing like that," I assured her. "I went to speak with her a little while ago. Suddenly, it just...hit me."
"Of course, I'll help." She tapped a finger on her bottom lip. "Last time I saw her, she was holed up in the 'library'.
The library was basically a large closet that the ancient woman had commandeered for her expansive collection of books that mysteriously kept growing. I'd always wanted to get in there and explore but, somehow, the woman had the room locked down—even from me. On my own ship!
Her shock seemingly resolving, Grixxa's lips widened in a grin, and she laced an arm in mine. "Let's get to it, my friend."