by Sue Lyndon
His spirits sank. Unless she wasn’t happy with him.
He dashed the thought aside. Even if she wasn’t happy, they were mated. For life. He continued studying her, wishing he could read her mind. He knew he could outright ask her if she was content in their mating union—and if she lied, he would know—but he wasn’t that brave.
Tears sprang to her eyes and she shook her head. “Sorry,” she muttered. “I feel so stupid crying right now.” She grabbed a napkin and dabbed at her eyes.
Kazzon reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “What has saddened you, sweet human? Please tell me, and I will try to make it better.”
“The interview was atrocious. My mom gushed about how much she loved me and how much she would miss me. She was careful not to speak against the Earth-Tarrkua trade agreement, but she mentioned how awful it would be to never see me again. Even though she knows I’ll return to Earth for a visit at least once a year, she lied about that. The article was one big attention seeking pity-fest. I feel humiliated.” She wiped away more tears, and Kazzon rose from the table.
He guided her to the chair in the corner of the room, where they often sat together, and he sank down while holding her on his lap. She melted against him, resting her cheek upon his chest. As he ran a comforting hand up and down her back, her gentle breaths tickled him through the fabric of his shirt.
“If I had your powers,” she said, “if I could see whenever someone lied, there would be a perpetual black cloud around my mother’s head. I don’t think she misses me, no matter what Wilson says. I think she’s in her element right now, drinking up the attention that’s being lavished upon her. It makes me sick. I tried talking to her about it last night, but she cut our call short, claiming she had an appointment. I just feel like a fool for spending my whole life trying to please her. And for what? So she could embarrass me in some gushing interview that was really all about her?”
Kazzon’s heart broke for Caylee. He wished he knew the right thing to say, some magic words that would erase all her pain. He tightened his hold on her and imagined his affection for her as a warm light he could surround her with. Gods, it was his duty to protect her, and it killed him that he couldn’t save her from the emotional pain inflicted by her family.
“Have you spoken to your father recently?”
She nodded against his chest. “Yes, I called him after I talked to my mother. He was apologetic and he offered to give an interview to the paper himself on my behalf, but I told him not to worry about it. Doesn’t seem like a good idea. It might stoke anti-Tarrkuan sentiment and I wouldn’t want that to happen.”
Her words shocked him. Her opinion of the arrangement between their worlds had altered much from when he’d first met her. Conceited though it might be, he preferred to think he had something to do with her rapid change in opinion. A smile tugged at his lips when he recalled how angry and fierce she’d been when he captured her on the street.
“I am truly sorry for the difficulties you are facing with your family, my sweet bride.” He stroked her back, as well as her hair, hoping to soothe her. If he could take her pain on himself, he would do so in a heartbeat. “But I am pleased that all seems to be well with your brother. I would encourage you to maintain a relationship with him but perhaps keep some distance between you and your parents.”
“I was always most worried about Wilson and how our parents’ behavior affected him. It’s a huge relief to me that he’s doing well now. Soon, he’ll leave for Collumbra and I am certain he will thrive there.” She paused and drew in a deep breath. “I think you’re right, about putting distance between myself and my parents. I don’t hate them, and I truly do wish them happiness, but our relationship is always going to be complicated and strained. Perhaps it’ll be easier if I only speak with them once every few weeks, if they wish to talk to me, that is. But I won’t lie, it hurts to feel used and unwanted.”
“It is wise to set boundaries with individuals who cause you unhappiness, little human.” But as soon as the words escaped his lips, he regretted them. What if he caused her unhappiness? He had taken her away from the only home she’d ever known, and she had admitted that she’d never wished to be selected as a Tarrkuan bride.
Thankfully, her next words helped assuage this particular worry of his.
“We’ve only been married for a few weeks now, and before that we were complete strangers, yet I feel like I can talk to you about anything.” She smiled up at him, her blue eyes twinkling in the overhead lights. “Thank you,” she said, her voice cracking. “Thank you for helping me feel better. If you were cruel and pushed me away, or if you ignored me, I don’t think I could bear it.” She swallowed hard and blinked against a fresh sheen of tears. “For the first time in a long time, I feel wanted.”
He pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead, his heart filling with joy.
“I wanted you from the first moment I saw you,” he admitted. “Even before I knew you were a Tarrkuan bride, I wanted you as mine, Caylee. That will never change, and I will never push you away or ignore you, or treat you with cruelty. You’re my sweet mate and I shall treasure you. Always. Until the end of my days and even beyond.” He wiped at her tears and kissed her again.
Chapter 28
“We’ll reach Xollnax early tomorrow morning,” Kazzon said as he guided her down the corridor, and his announcement caused Caylee’s stomach to flip.
She counted the days in her head and realized he was right, she’d simply lost track. Dread curled inside her, but she didn’t understand it. Kazzon had promised they wouldn’t remain on the planet for long. He’d even claimed he wouldn’t have to leave the ship, as Stonnas had promised to wait on the landing platform with his crew.
At first, she had been excited by the prospect of visiting an alien planet. But Kazzon’s behavior during the preceding days had set her on edge. He’d spent much of his time on the bridge and in engineering—the two locations on the ship she wasn’t permitted to explore. She had a sneaking suspicion his constant disappearances had something to do with their impending arrival on Xollnax, though she didn’t have any proof. Just a feeling. A very, very bad feeling.
Despite the worry that gnawed at her, she was careful to keep her face neutral and gave a slight nod after Kazzon’s announcement, not wanting him to detect any change in her mood. If he asked her if something was wrong, she couldn’t lie to him, and she had no doubt he would extract the truth from her in such a circumstance.
“I know you were hoping to get a good look at the Xollnaxian landscape,” he said, “and you will still be permitted to walk the corridors of the ship and gaze out all the viewscreens located at the ends of each corridor, but you will need to be quick about it, so you don’t miss anything.”
She forced a smile. “I’ll turn it into an early morning exercise,” she said, also forcing a chuckle, “running from one corner of the ship to another.”
He grinned down at her, his eyes twinkling. Guilt fell over her, because his smile looked genuine. Was it wrong to pretend nothing was wrong, just to avoid her mate’s prying questions?
She wished they didn’t have to stop on Xollnax and prayed they would suddenly get a message from Ambassador Stonnas with news that his ship was finally repaired and he no longer required rescue.
As they rounded a corner, Kazzon shifted beside her to grasp her hand. He laced his fingers through hers and gave her hand a gentle squeeze, gazing down at her with a tender look. Her heart brimmed with emotion. Though they hadn’t gotten married under the best of terms—at least from her point of view—true affection now existed between them. During the weeks spent aboard the Corrannelia, she had gotten to know him better and she enjoyed his company. She even missed him when he left her to attend to his duties on the ship.
But was it love?
Her face heated at the idea and flutters erupted in her tummy. She had never been in love, never even looked twice at another man. Well, not even once at another man. Human men didn’t te
mpt her in the slightest. But Kazzon—she craved him with everything inside her. She longed for his touch and ached for his kisses. Tingles swept through her as she imagined the evening to come. Every night, he claimed her at least twice. And that didn’t include all the extra activities they enjoyed in the bedroom—like the sexy playful spankings, the times he paid homage to her clit with his mouth, or when he forced her onto her knees so she might suck his cock.
“I can smell your arousal, little human,” came his deep, rumbling voice.
He paused in the corridor and turned her to face him, giving her a stern look.
“Tell me what you’re thinking about, Caylee.” He placed his lips to her ear, causing her to shiver at his nearness. His hot breath wafted against her cheek. “Tell me, or I will tug down your pants and spank you right here in the middle of this hallway.”
She gasped and reared back, regarding him with shock. “You wouldn’t dare! Someone might see!”
His eyes glinted with humor. “Do you wish to try me, little human? Perhaps we ought to test the acoustics in this corridor. I bet the entire ship would hear the resounding smacks of my hand hitting your bottom, echoing through the halls, as well as your whimpers and cries as you pleaded for mercy.”
Though the idea of being spanked in public, or even just in the earshot of others, left her utterly ashamed, the heat gathering in her core only strengthened. Her breath caught in her throat and she nearly moaned in desire, the intensity of the pulses making it difficult to concentrate on anything other than her absolute need.
Kazzon started leaning down and her insides fluttered, because she knew he meant to kiss her. She parted her lips slightly and closed her eyes, but a beeping sound interrupted their moment and he suddenly pulled away.
Frowning, she opened her eyes and realized the comm embedded in Kazzon’s wrist was glowing. He tapped at it and scrolled a few times, though she couldn’t see any of the words or symbols, but the abrupt tension tightening his jaw revealed it wasn’t good news.
“I must visit engineering, little human,” he said, giving her an immense look of regret.
She blew out a breath and nodded, trying to hide her disappointment. “It’s okay,” she said. “I know you have work to do.”
He grasped her hand and brought it to his lips, bestowing the softest of kisses upon the back of her hand. The heat in his eyes hadn’t yet dimmed and he pierced her with an intense, hungry look that sent quivers through her.
“I will find you soon,” he promised, then turned and disappeared down the corridor.
Caylee paced in front of the viewscreen, impatience eating at her.
What was taking Kazzon so long?
He had promised to find her soon, but hours had passed since he’d left for engineering. What was he doing in there, anyway? He was an ambassador, not a scientist, so it struck her as odd that he remained so proactive with the goings-on aboard the Corrannelia.
Of course, Kazzon was the first Tarrkuan diplomat she’d ever met, so she supposed there was more to his duties than she’d originally thought. Perhaps he acted as the ship’s captain. After all, she hadn’t heard him talking about the ship having a captain. Just the two pilots, some guards, and some workers who spent all their time in the engineering room. She’d met most of them in passing during the past couple of weeks, and counting herself and Kazzon, there were twenty-five souls on board the Corrannelia.
She paused to stare out the viewscreen and gazed at the stars that streaked by. Before she’d switched places with Julie, back when she’d still believed she would become a Tarrkuan bride, she’d never given much thought to what interstellar travel might be like. Instead, her thoughts had focused on leaving New Leesburg and her family behind, as well as what kind of life awaited her on Tarrkua.
Would she have had a view of the stars if she’d traveled to Kazzon’s planet aboard the Zenallia with the other human brides? She placed a hand on the viewscreen. It was cool to the touch and she felt as though she were swimming in the stars.
A strange sense of giddiness filled her, the wonder of a new and awesome experience realized, even though she’d been staring out of this viewscreen for weeks now. The realization and appreciation of an experience most humans would never get.
A smile graced her lips. Though she still harbored some worries about Xollnax, she felt lucky, in a way. She was embarking upon the adventure of a lifetime, getting to visit two alien planets. How many humans could claim that?
Aside from the brides who’d left for Tarrkua, the rest of humanity resided in the dome-cities on Earth. Their lives were pretty much controlled. You went to school, lived in assigned housing, and usually worked in a business or a factory. Each person was assigned a job that best suited their talents, and few humans were given a higher education. Wilson was an exception in that he would be educated beyond high school and he would also have the opportunity to travel outside the dome-city of his birth.
Her mind continued to wander, and she resumed pacing in front of the viewscreen. She supposed she could walk the corridors of the ship until Kazzon was finished in engineering, but she figured his quarters would be the first place he came to find her, so she stayed put.
A servant arrived with lunch, but her husband still didn’t join her. She ate alone, with the stars streaking by in her peripheral vision, and hoped nothing serious was wrong.
Eventually, she sank down on the bed, keeping her gaze on the door, hoping Kazzon would find her soon, just as he’d promised.
Chapter 29
Kazzon navigated the corridors of the Corrannelia, making haste for his quarters. At this late hour, he expected to find Caylee there. Perhaps sleeping, though he sincerely hoped she was still awake.
He regretted that he’d been forced to spend nearly the entire day absent from her side, but duty had called. Trouble on Xollnax, to be more specific. Though he hadn’t told Caylee, the engineering room also contained a command center, which he’d used to confer with Tarrkuan authorities regarding an unfolding situation on Xollnax.
All contact had been lost with Ambassador Stonnas’s ship. No Tarrkuan authorities had been able to get through to any guards or other crewmembers either.
Some of Kazzon’s superiors suspected the Xollnaxians had killed Stonnas and those accompanying him on the planet, but Kazzon wasn’t so certain. To murder a Tarrkuan ambassador would be an act of war, and surely the Xollnaxians must realize how powerful Kazzon’s people were. Tarrkuan technology was vastly superior to that which the Xollnaxians possessed.
Still, it was a puzzle, and one that Kazzon was determined to solve. Though he hesitated to stop on Xollnax while Caylee was aboard, he knew he had no choice. He also knew any other Tarrkuan ship, no matter who commanded it, would answer the call of an ambassador in distress.
If Kazzon ever found himself in a precarious situation on Earth or another alien planet, there was no doubt in his mind that his people would do everything in their power to help him, as well as punish those who posed a threat.
Tarrkuans sent diplomats to many alien worlds. Interstellar trade was a way of life for his people. Ambassadors such as himself kept the agreements alive and helped negotiate better treaties and form important alliances.
He cursed under his breath. He hoped once they landed on Xollnax, Stonnas and his crew would quickly be located. With Caylee aboard, he didn’t wish to stay on the alien planet for a prolonged period of time, though he remained confident that she would be safe on his ship.
He rounded a corner and the door to his quarters came into sight. Immediately, the stresses from the day started to fade from his mind, because he had a sweet human bride waiting for him on the other side of that door. Carnal thoughts entered his mind and his blood heated.
A low growl left him when he recalled the scent of her arousal that had hovered in the air during their last encounter. He’d somewhat playfully threatened to spank her, and her body had responded to his threat in a most salacious manner.
He e
ntered his quarters and scanned the room, looking for his little wife. A smile tugged at his lips when he spotted her tiny form under the bedsheets, but he stilled as he noticed a strange movement, as well as the unmistakable scent of her womanly essence, completely permeating the air.
Slowly, he crept toward the bed, keeping his footfalls light. Her breathing was ragged and rough, and her eyes were closed, the look on her face blissful yet slightly strained, as if she were concentrating on something. Judging by the movement of her hand underneath the covers, as well as the aroma of her feminine essence, there was no doubt in his mind what she was concentrating on.
He moved closer and watched her, observing her naughtiness. He had explicitly forbidden her from touching herself without his permission, yet here she was, stroking herself to ecstasy underneath the covers while she thought she was alone.
Disappointment mixed with anger. Did she do this frequently in his absence? Perhaps she had a habit of disobeying him and this was the first time she’d gotten caught. His palm twitched with the desire to smack her bottom.
Soft whimpers and moans left her throat. Despite his displeasure with her in the moment, his cock went hard and his balls drew up tight, desire coursing through him in a tingling heated wave. Fluxx. She was so naughty, and he fully intended to punish her for her disobedience.
He stood there, waiting for her to open her eyes and notice him glaring down at her. He crossed his arms over his chest and waited, wanting to see how far she took this mischief. Would she manage to bring herself to a release?
Her lips parted on a sharp moan and her eyelashes fluttered, though she didn’t open her eyes yet. The look of bliss on her face heightened and her body tensed. She gyrated her hips against her roving hand underneath the covers and made the gasping moaning noise she usually made while in the throes of a release.
