in the back of my mind, I knew I’d never again live alone with her, not with the threat of the Kulks and the Uldani. I’d have to leave her here if I couldn’t stay. And that would break both of us.
Still my nod seemed to appease her. She lay back down and cuddled against me. “Tell me…life. On Earth.”
“You want to hear about my life?”
“Yes.”
She told me all about her big family. Her parents who had important jobs as healers which meant they weren’t around a lot. As the oldest, she often cared for her younger siblings.
“Did you have any siblings?”
I shook my head. I’d been the first born, and my mother got sick shortly after with the virus.
“I miss them,” she said. “I used to wish for an afternoon of peace without one of them calling me, and now I would kill to hear from them one more time.”
“You … that way … with … women.”
“What way?”
“Care … them. They see you … older sister.”
“I do see them as my little sisters. I’m the oldest, and some of them, like Naomi, are just so innocent. I want to protect them.”
“But then who … protects you?”
“I don’t need protecting.”
I gave her a look. She rolled her eyes. “Okay, so sometimes I do, and I guess that’s your job now.”
I puffed out my chest. “Warrior.”
She laughed. “Yeah, yeah, big guy. Well I protect you too.”
“My female warrior,” I murmured into her hair. “Don’t need … clavas. Only … you.”
I had meant it as a compliment, but when she lifted her eyes to mine, they were sad again. “You’ll always have me. No matter what.”
She wanted me to accept the clavas again, but she didn’t want to force me to do it. I appreciated the way she respected how I was handling this return to my home, but it pained me to see her so conflicted.
“Maybe … it’ll feel different. Crius … closure.”
She smiled. “That’s true. We’ll see what judgement Daz hands down tomorrow.”
“I wonder…” I said. “Would you have like … before Drak?”
She cocked her head. “Would I have liked you before? Why not?”
“Colder,” I said. “Less…” I paused to think of the word I wanted. “Less care.”
“I don’t believe that,” she said. “I know some people say everything happens for a reason, and that’s often true. If the Kulks hadn’t taken me, we might never have met. But I don’t believe you had to suffer in your own mind for fifteen years in order to be a better warrior. A better male. A better mate.” Her lips found mine in the darkening room. “I don’t know if I believe in your Fatas either, but she pairs couples who complement each other. That’s us, Drak. You and me. I’m your bloom, remember? I always would have been drawn to your light.”
Her words put out the raging fire in my throat, spreading a cool balm to all my limbs until I felt like I could melt right into the furs.
“My eternal bloom.” I whispered before taking her mouth in a hungry kiss.
And then I took my bloom until she cried my name loud enough for the whole clavas to hear.
Thirteen
Drak
As I stood in the courtyard of the compound surrounded by the entire clavas, I would have given anything to turn back time to that morning. I’d woke up to find my mate already out of the furs. She wore a simple pair of shorts and a loose-fitting shirt that hung off one shoulder to reveal a creamy dark shoulder.
She had been sengeng to herself as she tended to her plants, watering them with an old qua jug and picking off any dead leaves or blooms. I watched her, making no move to let her know I was awake.
This was peace. Watching her encourage life to grow. My gaze dropped to her stomach. I’d seen the swollen belly of Daz’s mate. Would my bloom grow our life inside her? I imagined her heavy with my chit, and my cock thickened down my leg.
I’d interrupted her plant tending then by pulling her into the furs. She landed with a laughing shriek, which quickly turned to moans as I’d buried my face between her legs and licked her until she cried out.
I relished my memories now. They flashed in my clear mind vividly. Merr-anda elbowed me and shot me an exasperated look. Oh, right. She probably knew what I was thinking, which was plunging my cock back into her wet cunt. Instead I stood