Drak smiled. “They feel good.”
Abby laughed. “I’ve just never tried to hurt you with mine, mate.”
Roth leaned in closer to Vera. “Becky is Darla’s younger sister. She works and lives on Defcon Red. So do her parents and brothers. You’ll meet them soon. They visit often, but didn’t wish to move into our family cabin.”
Vera stared into his golden eyes. “I’d like that.”
“You are not alone anymore,” Roth assured her. “Our family is large.”
Warmth spread through Vera as Roth straightened in his seat and made a low grunt.
Everyone at the table looked at him.
“I have an announcement.” Roth paused. “Vera has agreed to become my mate.” He held up his free hand before anyone could say anything. “She hasn’t seen my battle form yet.”
“It won’t change a thing,” Vera quickly stated. “You are stuck with me.”
He met her gaze. “I hope that is true.”
“It’s totally true.” Vera had no qualms about that. She glanced around the table, and Abby was the first to speak.
“That’s great news!” She beamed at them both. “Congratulations.”
“Veslors make the best mates ever,” Darla added. “Welcome to our grouping.”
Gnaw inclined his head, his gaze on Roth. “I am happy for you.”
“I am as well,” Drak added.
Maith glanced between Darla and Roth. “A mate is a good thing. I welcome you into our grouping, Vera.” He rose to his feet. “I need to meet with the other team medics for training. My apologies.” He strode through the living room and exited the cabin without a backward glance.
Vera chewed on her lip, worried. “Does he not like me?”
Roth cupped her face with his hand, making her turn her head to look at him. He let go of her as soon as their gazes met. “He is the last male without a mate. It is not you.”
“Roth’s words are true,” Gnaw murmured. “Of all of us, Maith has longed for a mate the most. It is difficult for him to be alone.”
“Oh.” Vera felt bad for Maith.
“We’d hoped he and Becky would bond.” Gnaw glanced at Darla. “They haven’t.”
“Yet,” Darla sighed. “There’s still hope. He’s very attractive, and my sister isn’t blind.”
Gnaw growled.
Darla laughed. “You’re more handsome. Never feel jealous. I’m all yours, and you know it.”
Gnaw snorted but he leaned in to place a kiss on Darla’s lips.
Roth stood. “Vera and I are returning to my room.” He gave Drak a pointed look.
Drak nodded. “I will be here guarding our home.”
Vera rose to her feet and Roth took her hand, leading her back to his bedroom. She felt the stares of the grouping on her as she walked. That was something she needed to get used to. Roth came with a large group of people. They would be a consistent part of her life.
Once in the bedroom, Roth released her hand and motioned toward the bed.
Vera grinned. “I want you too.”
His intense gaze met hers. “This is not a time for copulation. I am going to shift for you.” He paused. “Drak will remain alert in the other room, in case you panic and attempt to flee. It wouldn’t be safe for you to leave our cabin.”
“I’m not going to run, Roth.” Vera walked to the bed and sat down on the end of it.
“I will never harm you.”
“I know that. I think you’re more nervous than I am about this.”
Roth didn’t deny it. He did begin to strip out of his clothing. That was something Vera loved to see. He had an amazingly sexy body. When he stood absolutely naked, about five feet from her, he suddenly dropped to his hands and knees.
“Are you certain that you’re ready?”
Vera nodded and laced her fingers together on her lap. She also mentally braced for whatever was about to happen. She knew that no matter what, she couldn’t freak out or he’d reconsider being her mate. That wasn’t about to happen. She was determined to stay with Roth. “Shift. Show me your battle form. I’m ready.”
Roth closed his eyes and lowered his chin almost to his chest.
Vera swallowed hard, pressing her lips together to avoid gasping or making any noise. Roth did enough of that already, as his body contorted. Bones and joints cracked, shifting under his dark skin. His legs and arms kind of shortened but grew thicker, as if the lower parts of them were being absorbed into the upper sections of his limbs.
The soft fur retreated, turning to leathery skin. The hair on the top of his head kind of spread as his head widened.
When he lifted his face again, his nose and mouth had expanded outward.
Breathe, she reminded herself, sucking in air through her nose. Her heart pounded. Roth wasn’t a man anymore. Male, she corrected. He was a frightening-looking alien beast.
Roth stood there on all fours, just watching her. Vera figured he might be waiting for her to say or do something.
The cubs were cute. Roth…wasn’t. He was huge in his battle form. Not that he’d been small compared to human guys when he walked on two legs.
Vera unclasped her hands and slid off the bed, going to her knees on the floor. She forced herself to breathe. In and out, she silently chanted. Then she slowly walked forward on her knees. Her gaze locked with his, and some of the tension in her eased.
It was Roth. Those eyes were the same. He was her alien. Just…different.
She smiled. “Wow. You look ferocious.”
Roth took a hesitant step closer. Vera paused before reaching out to touch him. Her hand might have trembled just a little but it didn’t stop her from gently brushing her fingers along his cheek. His skin felt rougher in texture than normal. She explored under his extended chin, stroking him there. Her smile widened.
“Amazing…”
Roth inched closer, and Vera sat on her butt. He moved next to her and took a seat, too. She stroked his wide chest, running her fingers along his side. He made a snort noise and jerked away a little.
Vera laughed. “Sorry. Did I tickle you?”
Roth began to shift back.
She pulled her hands away from him, not sure if it was safe to keep touching him during the process. The noises his body made had her hiding a grimace. By the time he sat in front of her, back to his normal self, a fine sheen of sweat shone on his body.
She reached out to press her hand to his muscled chest. “That’s a workout, huh?”
“It is when I slow the transformation down, and do it again within a short time period.” He gazed at her. “You weren’t terrified of me?”
“No, I wasn’t. It’s still you.”
A slow smile spread across his lips and reached his golden eyes. “I didn’t terrify you…”
“No, you didn’t. I already told you—”
Roth suddenly reached for her, picking her up and placing her on his lap. He hugged her close. “Thank you.”
She snuggled into him, ignoring the fact that he was a little sweaty. It didn’t matter. “For what? I told you that I accept all of you.”
“That wasn’t the most difficult part.”
She remembered what Abby had told her. “You have to do that while we’re having sex, to mate us.”
“Yes. You hopefully won’t notice when we bond.”
Vera wasn’t certain how that would ever happen, but all that mattered to her was keeping Roth for the rest of her life. “Should we do that now?” Part of her hoped he said yes. The faster it happened, the less likely her nerves would build up. She’d always been the type to always just face her fears. Putting it off would give her more time to overthink it.
“Later this evening.”
She turned her head, peering up at him. “Why not now?”
“I just transformed twice. I need a shower and more food before I mate you.”
“Okay.” She could understand that. “I want to do it today, though. Or tonight. I really do want to be your mate.
”
He grinned. “I want that badly, Vera.”
“Okay. Then we have a plan!”
“There are other things we must do today, as well.”
“What?”
Roth adjusted her on his lap and sat more comfortably on the floor. “You don’t have any things. Females need more clothing and supplies. I’ve asked Abby to help you with that. The ship has many stores.”
“I don’t have access to my financial accounts on Earth right now. I’ve already asked the woman the fleet assigned to help me, when I was discharged from medical. She said it could be done but it would take about a week. I didn’t bother to ask her to start the process, since I figured I wouldn’t be on Defcon Red for that long. I need to contact her again and ask her to start that process.”
“You never need to worry about that, Vera.” Roth gave her a little squeeze. “Our grouping will provide all you need.”
“I’ll pay you back.”
He snorted. “What is ours is yours. You’re my mate.”
She nodded, deciding she’d just have her funds from Earth transferred to whatever account Roth’s grouping had, if that’s how they worked their financials. Her trust in Roth was absolute. He’d never screw her over by stealing her money. Abby Thomas trusted the Veslors, and she was mega-rich. None of them were going to be impressed by her contribution. It almost made her laugh.
“What are your thoughts?”
Vera smiled at Roth. “I’m excited to mate you later.”
“I am as well.” He gave her another hug. “Get up now. I will shower.”
“I don’t mind your sweat.”
He chuckled. “You are probably the only female who doesn’t. My sense of smell is much better than yours. Up, Vera.”
She reluctantly climbed off his lap with his assistance. Roth got to his feet and snagged his pants from the floor. “I will be back soon.” He put them on and left the bedroom.
Vera smiled and threw herself on the bed. Roth and her would have a future together. After everything horrible she’d survived…something wonderful would come from it. “I’m going to be like a phoenix rising from the ashes,” she whispered.
Roth walked out of his sleeping room to find Drak standing guard. He smiled at the male as the doors closed behind him.
Drak smiled back and gripped his shoulders. “Your female did not run.”
“No. Vera is extremely brave.”
“You are blessed.”
“I am.”
Drak inhaled, smelling him. “When do you plan to mate her?”
“Later this day.”
“I will be here.”
“Vera won’t be frightened during our mating. I know this now. I am certain.”
“I will still be here. It should be Maith, but…”
Sadness filled Roth. “His heart hurts.”
“He should have been the first of us to mate. Not the last. It comes as a shock to us all. Especially to him.”
“We need to find him a female.”
Drak snorted. “We believed he would be attracted to Darla’s sister. That hasn’t happened.”
“We should attempt to get her to agree to move into our cabin. That would put them together more often.”
“We have tried. Becky is determined to remain unmated.”
Roth acknowledged that to be true. “We could expose him to more human females. One of the doctors complimented me on my muscles. I smelled arousal from her.”
“Which one?”
“Cynthia Kane.”
“I will speak to Jessa. She knows all the medical humans. Perhaps we could ask if Med Bay needs assistance from our medic.”
“See to it.”
“Done. Would you like Abby to assist your female now? She went to our room to check her messages from Earth.”
“Please. Make certain Abby buys my Vera everything that she will need.”
“I’m on it.” Drak gave his shoulders one more squeeze. “I am so happy that you have found a mate.”
“I am as well. I want to have cubs.”
“I’m certain that you shall.” Drak released him. “I’ll get Abby.”
Roth watched the male walk away, then he entered the bathroom. He never suspected being sent on a rescue mission would gain him a mate. He felt blessed. All the resentment he’d ever felt at their king for sending them to work with the humans dissipated completely. It had turned out to be the best thing to ever happen to his grouping.
He stripped off his pants and turned on the shower, stepping inside. His only worries now concerned finding Maith a mate…and discovering who had attempted to harm Vera.
Anger came with that thought. Whoever it was, the human male would pay.
Chapter Fourteen
Vera hesitated. “I think you’ve bought me way too much.”
Abby sat at the dining room table with her, ordering everything from shoes to undergarments. “Trust me. You can never have enough clothing when mated to a Veslor. Especially bras and panties.”
Vera frowned in confusion.
Abby winked. “Drak tends to tear them off me if they’re too sexy and he’s been gone from me for more than six hours.” She lowered her voice. “Veslors have a high sex drive.”
That information didn’t alarm Vera. Not after testing a mating with Roth. “Really? That’s promising.”
“It sure is.” Abby clicked on two more lace black bras, adding them to the virtual cart. “I just wish they had better selections. We’ll do some shopping from Earth next week. That’s when I send my latest wish list to my best friend, Megan. She took over some of my duties at D Corp that I can’t handle from here. I had her hire an assistant just to do my shopping. Megan sends me monthly shipments.”
“That must be nice. Is that the food, too?”
“Yes. Speaking of a flight coming this way from Earth…you have an apartment there, correct?”
“Yes.”
Abby turned in her seat to stare at Vera. “Roth will throw a fit if you plan to fly back there without him to get your stuff. He won’t be able to go with you anytime soon, since their king’s assigned them to Defcon Red. But I’d like to help with that. I can have Megan’s assistant pack up your stuff and ship it here.”
“But I live in San Francisco.”
“That’s not a problem. I assume you can contact management to give Addison clearance to gain entry.”
“Yes. I’d just need her full name. You’d do that?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you so much, Abby.”
“It’s no problem. Commander Bills assigned us a large storage unit onboard for my food shipments. Part of it isn’t refrigerated. I can have Addison pack everything and have it all flown here. My parents gifted me with a space yacht, and that’s what we use every month. It keeps the crew working, otherwise they’d have to find jobs elsewhere and the yacht would just sit parked on Earth, not being used.”
“You’re so kind. I’ll just make a list of important stuff that I want. The furniture I own isn’t anything worth shipping.”
“Really? It’s no big deal.”
Vera sighed. “Really. And it kind of is. I bought most of it secondhand anyway, since I wasn’t home much. There was no need to waste money on new furniture that I hardly used. I’d like it if your Addison could donate my furniture and just pack my personal belongings.”
“Done.”
Vera reached out and took Abby’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze before releasing it. “Thank you. It will also mean I can avoid my biological father if he’s hanging around my apartment, hoping to ask me for money. I never want to see him again. He’s a jerk.”
“Would he honestly harass you?”
“Every chance he gets,” Vera admitted.
“I’ll send a warning about him to Megan. We don’t want your whereabouts shared, if you’re not close to him. Her assistant will take a few guards with her to pack up your place, just in case he does show up.”
“That woul
d be great.”
“We’re family now. Or we will be after tonight. Think of me like a sister. I hope you always wanted one.” Abby laughed.
Vera blinked back tears.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes. Just still a little emotional. I didn’t have any real family left.”
“Now you have a big one.” Abby winked. “Okay. Up next, we should probably buy you pajamas.”
“I don’t plan to wear any with Roth. I like sleeping naked with him.”
“Fair enough, but I’m buying you comfortable loungewear. You’ll need that. I can’t tell you how many nights Darla and the cubs and I have piled into the living room to sleep together, while our men are on assignment.”
“Are they gone often?”
“No.” Abby shook her head. “Sometimes they’re sent on missions with the tactical teams, though, and we worry while they’re gone. Darla and I can’t sleep if our mates aren’t here, until they return safely.”
“Okay.”
Abby went back to her device, still shopping. Vera’s gaze kept going to Roth and Drak. Both men were sitting on one of the couches about twenty feet away. They spoke softly enough that she couldn’t hear their conversation. Whatever the topic, both seemed tense to her.
Vera lowered her voice. “What do you think that they’re talking about?”
Abby raised her head and whispered back. “Probably plotting on how to find the person who tried to poison you. They aren’t going to let that go. No one attempts to kill a mate and gets away with it. I almost feel sorry for the bastard. Almost. He’s so screwed, and he totally deserves whatever’s coming his way.”
“That investigator guy, Trowly, is already on the case.”
“Security tried to pin it on you at first. Drak’s confidence in them is shot to shit. I’m sure Roth feels the same. Hell, even Uncle Howard was pissed when he found out how lazy they were, arresting you right off the bat without a thorough investigation.”
“Uncle Howard?”
“Commander Bills. He and my parents go way back. He’s not actually a blood relation, but he’s still family.”
“Wow.” Vera was stunned. “He is in charge of Defcon Red, right?”
“The one and the same. Not only is he like family, but he loves the Veslors.”
Mission: Planet Biter (Veslor Mates Book 4) Page 15
