know how long I will remain like this.”
“Mm.” She wiggled experimentally and gasped as the movement reawakened the sensitive tissues. The stretching fullness had not diminished, which sent a shiver jolting down her spine. He reached down between their bodies and ran his thumb across her clit. Her body instinctively tried to tighten, only to meet the barrier of his cock.
He groaned appreciatively. “This is a most exquisite agony.”
He repeated the stroke and she could already feel her climax building again.
“Can you come again?” she asked breathlessly, her hands tightening on his shoulders as his tail came up and began to tease her nipples.
“No. But you will.” His eyes glowed with heat. “Many times.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
By the time his shaft finally softened, Abigail was limp and helpless in Hrebec’s arms. He carefully pulled free and gathered her close to him. The couch was too small to be comfortable, but he didn’t care; he was too overcome with emotion to want to move.
He had found his mate, his woman.
Inzen had warned him that if he knotted inside her, he would be bound to her. There would be no other female for him. Even though he knew he wouldn’t be able to keep Abigail, in the end, it had been an easy decision. He would rather have her for this brief time, to know the bliss of having found his mate, than spend his life alone without ever knowing this sense of completion. Basking in the happiness of being with his mate, he buried his nose in her hair and let their combined scents fill him.
Abigail finally stirred. “We should go to bed.”
“Wait here. I will tend to you.”
He pulled on his pants, then walked quietly through the bedroom to fetch a shirt for her to sleep in and a cleansing cloth. There was something deeply satisfying in seeing their combined fluids as he gently cleansed her reddened folds. She blushed as he wiped her clean, wincing a little despite his gentleness.
“Was the knotting too much for you, my mate?” he asked.
Abigail’s eyes flew open. “What did you say?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think before I spoke.”
“Hrebec, you know I have to return to Earth.”
“Yes, of course.” He did understand, even though the reminder filled him with sorrow. “You have your responsibilities, and I have mine.”
“I wish… In many ways, I wish I could stay with you.”
He smoothed the worried line between her brows with the touch of his finger. “I told you that I understood.”
Without waiting for a response, he lifted her into his arms and took her to bed. As usual, Lucie was sprawled sideways across the bed. After gently depositing Abigail, he straightened Lucie out.
With his heart full, he slipped into bed beside his mate. Tiana was close at hand, sleeping in her bassinet, but he didn’t reach for her. Tonight, he wanted his mate in his arms that he might savor every moment they had together. He wrapped his arms and tail around her and she gave a sleepy sigh and nestled back against him. Instead of thinking about the future, he let himself drift off to sleep, content with the present.
For once, Lucie was not the first to awaken. Instead, Hrebec opened his eyes to find the room in stillness. Abigail was still in his arms, her soft weight and sweet scent causing his cock to thicken. If they had been alone, he would not hesitate to part her legs and feast on her delicious cunt.
However, they weren’t alone. Lucie’s tiny feet dug into his ribs, and he silently praised Granthar that humans didn’t possess talons. Despite his aching cock, waking up this way pleased him immensely. He had his family around him. Even as he smiled at the thought, he heard Tiana stir. Little snuffling noises came from the bassinet, and he realized with delight that he knew her well enough now to recognize that she was hungry.
Reluctantly disentangling himself from Abigail, he slipped out of bed and picked up the infant. Her eyes were open and she cooed at him as he picked her up, her head nuzzling into his arm in a contented gesture. As quietly as possible, he prepared her bottle and took her into the front room to change and feed her. He had forgotten to pick up the cardigan, but it didn’t seem to matter. She latched on to the bottle eagerly and began feeding, her tail curled around his wrist.
As his tail stroked her smooth little head, his arms ached despite her