Wrage (Galaxy Gladiators #11) - Alana Khan Page 0,27
by the tenets of the lord. No, this, this right here, was the first act of selfless kindness I’ve ever witness or received.
I close my eyes and breathe deeply as I make myself a promise—I will try with every iota of energy I possess to deserve what this female has to offer.
Chapter Six
Elyse
We’re cuddled together, his fingers combing the tangles out of my hair. It’s soothing and arousing at the same time. I should be dead tired; I think it’s deep into the middle of the night. I’m jazzed, though, as I wonder if there might be more lovemaking before we leave the peaceful protection of our little malta.
“You’re a good female, Elyse. Sleepy?”
“It depends. Is there a better offer on the table?” I toss my head and give him a saucy look, not wanting to admit how desperate I am for more.
“There could be, but I have a question.”
It must be a hard one, because he doesn’t just launch, he waits for my response.
“Okay,” I say reluctantly.
“No. It’s not a question, it’s a statement. You gagged on me. I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want with me. Not in bed or out.”
I stroke my palm on the flat of his chest, my head tipped down so he can’t read my face. Then I force myself to explain. Really, what have I got to lose with this male I danced among the stars with?
“I’ve learned in the past four years it’s something males like. For all the years it was forced on me, I thought it might be nice to offer it to someone I like. Kind of a gift.”
His hands gently reach under my armpits and haul me higher in bed so we’re face to face.
“I would love to be showered with gifts, Elyse. As a gladiator, I haven’t received any. But never at your expense. Never.” He pauses, takes a breath, and shakes his head. “Never.”
Then he kisses me. He must have a long menu of kisses, because this is unlike any other we’ve shared. Although his lips are hard, the act itself is tender and possessive.
And then it’s more. We share in bed all night long, learning each other’s bodies and preferences and little idiosyncrasies. He never penetrates me, though. I’m still not sure why.
~.~
It’s going to be a long day of meet-the-parents. In fact, I don’t even know if both his parents are still alive. He’s been in contact with his mother through comms. She’s supposed to meet us at the shuttle station. Other than that, he’s been mum other than to say he wanted me to make my own judgements.
As I slip out of the communal malta bathroom, feeling refreshed and more awake than I have a right to feel, his wide smile tells me he likes what he sees. If that wasn’t clear enough, he says, loud enough for everyone waiting in line to hear, “You look beautiful.” When I join him at his side, he whispers, “No one will know we were dracking all night.”
The little male behind him, four feet tall and the color of my favorite yellow and orange spring lily, says in a loud stage whisper, “No one but the inhabitants of the malta next to you, that is.”
Everyone in line laughs. Oddly, this doesn’t mortify me. There’s something about being in the cheap seats together, having to share a communal bathroom, having gotten a lousy night’s sleep because of the accommodations, that gives us license to act like family for the rest of the trip.
Breakfast is hurried so we can be evicted before the folks in the more expensive cabins wander in to eat. It consists of little more than nutrition bars and thinned down sour milk. At least we get to sit upright for a moment.
We’re only smashed in our cabin for another hour before it’s our stop.
“You’re sure you’re not going to give me a heads-up? No info on weird Uncle Fester? No tales of your childhood?”
“It will come later. I just want you to draw your own conclusions.”
“Okay, but I don’t want you to worry about me. I’ll hang back while your family hug the spots off you.”
“After all we shared last night, you should know I don’t have spots.” His face is deadpan, but I’m learning he his a wicked, dry sense of humor.
“It’s an Earth expression. Just imagine hugging so tightly they rub someone’s spots off. At any rate, I’ll just bask in the pleasure of watching how they greet their