if he won’t come willingly, I get to do things the hard way.” Her teeth bare in a menacing smile. “The hard way is my favorite.”
Oh boy. We talked about babies just last night and I guess Nassakth is ready to get started. I’m not sure I’m thrilled Bethiah is on the case, though. “Please don’t kill the doctor.”
“No killing. Just a little maiming.” She licks her lips. “And only on unnecessary limbs.”
“No maiming!”
She pinches her fingers together. “Just a little.”
“I want my doctor whole and preferably not angry at me,” I tell her, hands on hips. “Maybe try less maiming and more bribery, huh?”
“But the maiming’s the fun part.” At my scowl, she just chuckles and pinches my cheek again. “Fine, fine. We’ll do it your way…for now. But I can’t promise anything if he tries to run from me.”
I push her hand away. “Bethiah…”
“I’m joking, I’m joking!”
Something tells me she’s not. I point at her. “The doctor has to be whole and willing or he’s no use to me. Write that down. Tattoo it on your chest if you have to.”
“So fierce.” Her tail flicks wildly. “It’s so cute when humans start to look like their masters.” She reaches out to pinch my cheek again, and I slap her hand away before she can touch me, which only makes her laugh harder.
Okay, so maybe I won’t miss Bethiah all that much.
76
NASSAKTH
I worried I would have regrets, cutting off my parents and ignoring their offer.
Not over Kim, of course. Never that. Just that I would feel regret over not being the heir to my house, incredibly wealthy and revered amongst my people. I worried that it would eat at me as I slept.
But as we pull the air-sled up to my home and Kim touches my leg, all I feel is relief.
Relief that it is all over.
Relief that we can return to our quiet life.
Relief that I chose this brave, strong human female over everything dangled in front of my nose.
All I have ever wanted is Kim. Ever since I saw her, breathed in her scent, beheld her smile—she has consumed my thoughts. She brings me more happiness than I could have ever imagined, and I would give everything up for her a dozen times over.
“This makes me so happy,” Kim says in a soft voice. “Can we never leave the planet again? Ever?”
I chuckle, setting the sled down in its spot in front of the house and turning it off. “I like that idea very much. But I do not want you to feel trapped. Are you sure you will not miss roaming the galaxy?”
She wrinkles her nose at me as if the very idea is distasteful. “You do realize almost every single human spends their entire life on Earth and never feels the need to roam the galaxy? I think I’ll be fine.” Her hand slides up my thigh. “As for feeling trapped, I think you can manage to keep me occupied.”
I love this new aspect of Kim—her boldness. Now that she has decided truly that I am hers, she reaches for me all the time. Her hands are both aggressive and possessive, and I welcome these touches. I love that she cannot keep her hands to herself. I love that she is as addicted to touching me as I am to touching her. My warrior rises in greeting, and I am tempted to pull my mate into my lap and mate with her right here in front of the house…but then Kim stifles a yawn, and my protective instincts take over.
“Come,” I tell her. “It has been a long journey. Let us go inside.”
Everything in the house is just as we left it, and as I carry our bags inside, a cleaning droid putters past on the floors, sweeping. My plants look a little dry, and I make a mental note to check the auto-waterers. There is much to do now that we are back—I have to check the farming bots and the bots that handle the care of the meat-stock. I have to review logs of their daily activities and reports to ensure all is running smoothly. Then there is Kim’s farm to check on. There are lessons for my mate, and crop shipments to schedule, and a hundred other small things that must be taken care of. Those that think farming is a simple, easy life have not spent a day in my shoes.
And yet…it is a good life, one I enjoy far more