“Oh, wow! That sounds so cool!”
“I know, right? I’m so excited about it! I just hope Kranow likes the idea as I’ve booked him to do it, too.”
“Oh, I bet he will. I swear these Mylos warriors will try anything at least once!” Steven said, laughing.
“Oh my goodness, yes. Remember them at the luaus?” Darla asked before launching into an explanation for Melissa’s benefit.
“Oh my God, yes! The conch horn blowing contest!” Melissa shook with laughter. Marley smiled, a deep pang of regret stabbing through her. She wished she’d been there and realized that she had had that chance, with Melissa. If she’d ignored that spiteful inner voice and reached out, she just might have been invited. Or if she’d booked a ticket to any of those public luaus, she might have even been to the very first that the Mylos had attended, with Darla. Now she’d never be able to attend. Sure the beach barbecue at Grayton was going to be great and the beaches and swimming and all was going to be fun on Barra, too. But they weren’t her beloved Hawaii. She’d done that. She’d barred herself from Paradise and now she was lucky that she even got to experience a beach on Earth at all.
“Oh no, don’t cry, sugar!” Darla said, alarmed. “It was all this talk of Hawaii, wasn’t it? You really miss the place. Oh, shoot,” she said, looking about wildly. “We really messed up decorating this place with reminders, didn’t we?”
Marley shook her head. “No. I just realized they won’t ever let me go back, so I’ll never get to go to experience one of those luaus with you guys. And I could’ve, back when I lived there, if I hadn’t been such a royal bitch.” She cried harder.
“What is going on?” was said in a roar. All eyes jerked t the now open doorway. Opening and closing his fists, his scales beginning to make themselves known, stood Kranow. The sound startled Lapresh, who jerked, pulling himself off the nipple in surprise before scrunching up his face and beginning to cry.
“We were talking about the wedding and laughing over some stuff that happened at Darla’s and Melissa’s,” Steven said defensively.
“It’s okay,” Marley reassured him, standing up and running towards Kranow, arms wide. “I’m just hormonal or something. “ She clasped him tightly. Kranow gazed into her eyes searchingly, holding her firmly against himself. “I can’t believe it! I wasn’t expecting you until the day after tomorrow.”
“I wished to surprise you,” he said, satisfied by what he saw within the depths of her eyes, his expression gentling.
“Well, you did! And here I thought you’d not get here until the day before the wedding!”
“And that’s our cue to leave,” Melissa said, jiggling Lapresh as she held him against her shoulder. The infant snuffled loudly, then gave a soft hiccup. Kranow eyed the infant, a guilty look crossing his expression.
“My apologies. I did not intend to frighten your young.”
“No harm done. I’m sure when you walked in, it looked bad. You were just defending your girl, here,” Melissa said with a soft smile. Kranow returned the smile before dropping a soft kiss to the top of Marley’s head.
“Yes, indeed, but I need to be more mindful.” He glanced around. “Where are the rest of the young?”
“Oh, it’s okay, they aren’t here,” Darla replied.
“Yeah, they’re at a birthday party. Sergeant Timmons’ kid turned seven,” Steven supplied.
“Sergeant Timmons?” Kranow wrinkled his brow, trying to place the name.
“He’s one of the former military training here. He works in ship’s maintenance and his son is going to be moving into my class,” Marley said, another sad expression crossing her face. “If I still have one, that is.”
“You do!” Darla cried. “School’s just on hiatus right now until they figure out who that DNA belongs to. It’s not in the system, neither in the Mylos database nor in any belonging to any human law enforcement, so it’s not someone who ever applied to be a bride nor is it any of the military folks or a known criminal or anyone else who’d be in the databases.”
“Yeah, but then who was it?” Marley cried out. Kranow pulled her closer against his chest and began rubbing slow, soothing circles on her lower back.
“They’ll find out. And when they do, they’ll be sorry they were ever born,” Darla promised darkly. “We’re all family, and you don’t mess with our family.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Marley peered from around the body that held her as her friends filed past, Steven waggling his fingers in good-bye, Darla with a knowing wink and a saucy grin, and Melissa offering a quick nod. Then they were gone, and she turned her gaze to the male who held her. He gave a soft growl and crashed his lips to hers. She strained against his arms, mewling in want. He loosened his arms to allow her to clamber up, his hands settling against her bottom in support as she wrapped her legs about his waist, wending her arms about his neck.
She felt the small, jolting movements of his stride as he walked them towards the sofa. She broke the kiss, panting against his lips just before he dropped her against the cushioned surface. “It’s been far too long since I claimed you last,” he growled, feral need turning his eyes reptilian.
“Yes,” she whispered, canting her hips towards him. His hands reached down, and grasped the top button of her jeans before pulling down the zipper. She lifted her hips higher, urging him to pull the fabric down over her hips. Hooking his thumbs under the waist of the jeans and her panties, he did so, not stopping until they were completely off, then tossing them unceremoniously onto the floor. He sat her up, pulling off her t-shirt in one swift movement before laying her back once more. His gaze darkened as he realized she’d gone braless.
“They’ve been too sensitive to wear a bra,” she said, following his gaze.
His eyes tracked downwards, his right hand reaching out to cup the now visible gentle swell of her abdomen.
“Yeah, not much to see there yet, but I think this might be the last week I can squeeze into those jeans.”
“You are beautiful,” he said, straightening himself and beginning to disrobe. “Let me show you just how much.”
She drank in the sight of him eagerly, entranced by the play of the light over his muscles as he moved, the flush of color from his emerging scales speaking volumes. Heat pooled in her belly, igniting the flames of her need into an inferno of want. She lifted her arms to him and he came gladly, bracketing her with his arms. His lips descended upon hers once more, and they feasted upon each other’s kisses, thrusting against each other, becoming delirious from the friction that was almost, but not quite enough.
After what seemed like an eternity, he unwound her legs from about his waist where they held him pinned. Canting his hips back, he let go of one ankle to grasp his rigid member and bring its swollen tip to her dripping folds.
She moaned in hunger at the feel of the blunt head pressing against her.
Then, in one swift, sharp move, he thrust his length completely inside her.
Electricity danced along her nerves, and she arched her back in an incendiary moment of pleasure and pain as he split her wide. Then it morphed into a hum of pure bliss as he eased partway out and then back in, repeating the short thrusts. She groaned, using her free leg to pull him deeper into her.
He responded by swiveling his hips on the next inward thrust.
She panted, lost to the sensations of his movements, her eyes glued to his as she undulated beneath him, rising up as he retreated, determined to not let him leave her body completely.
He began to vary his onslaught, dragging his cock out until only the tip remained before plunging deep into her depths, then rotating his hips with a surprising gentleness as he made more shallow movements before once more pulling nearly completely out.
She could hear herself uttering begging cries as if they came from a far off distance, but she didn’t care. There was only the two of them in this moment, merging as one, their souls intertwining as their bodies locked together with fierce abandon
. When the vertigo began to show its hand, Kranow had begun to buck with erratic, wild abandon. The sparks that lit along her nerves shoved her over into the abyss and then she was falling. She was aware of nothing in that moment but pure, unadulterated pleasure, before crashing back down. She had barely come to herself when Kranow gave a few short, hard, thrusts and bared his teeth, his head thrown back as he flooded her with his essence before collapsing onto his upper arms.
Recovering himself, he met her eyes and claimed her lips.
Nothing needed to be said, that language of their bodies having said everything. They lazily savored the taste of each other, his fingers teasing the strands of her hair as he played with them, his hands against her scalp. She closed her eyes, sated and content.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The white sand sparkled on a surprisingly empty beach as waves dashed into the shore, their emerald hues turning to jade the closer to land they came.
“Why is it so deserted? Did we book the whole beach?” Marley asked incredulously.
“No, it’s almost always like this. It’s a public park and you have to pay a bit to get in, but folks seem to prefer to drive on and go to the crowded beaches at Destin and Pensacola for some reason and they don’t have all the amenities this one does, either. Not unless you’re a paying guest at one of the condos there, and not even then a lot of the time.”
Marley shook her head. The parking was definitely convenient. They’d pulled into the several spaces right behind the picnic and barbecue pavilion. It would make transporting the coolers currently plugged into the vehicles’ cigarette lighters much easier. A few steps to the left was a path that led to an outdoor shower and another path to the wooden changing rooms behind. Marley was grateful for the shower. She couldn’t wait to peel out of her clothes and into her swimwear before rinsing the sweat off of her skin. She caught the bag containing her swimwear as Kranow gently tossed it to her, then followed her friends to the changing areas.
Once changed and after a refreshing chilled can of grape soda, they all made their way to the water’s edge where Steven waited expectantly. “Okay, now, Kranow, you stand here, and hold both of her hands. Marley, you stand there, and hold his as well,” Steven said. The remainder of their friends gathered round.
“Mommy, can we build a sandcastle now?” Maisie piped up, looking up at Melissa.
“Shh, in just a minute. Right now, Ms. Marley and Mr. Kranow are getting married.”
Maisie turned her wide eyes towards the couple. “Sorry, I forgotted,” she mumbled, disconsolately.
Junrig reached a hand out and gently stroked the child’s hair in reassurance, and she moved to cling to his leg, watching with wide eyes.
“We are gathered here as friends today, to witness the promises of forever to each other that Marley and Kranow will make. They are already of one soul, this gathering being a symbol of celebration. Let us now hear the declarations of Kranow.” Steven waited expectantly for the warrior to speak.
“The things you feel the value of the most are those you have fought for. I have watched you struggle to free yourself of doubt, fears, and prejudices that kept you captive. You fought your way out, and in so doing, found your way to me. My heart is now complete and my soul sings with the melody that is only you.”
Marley’s eyes prickled. She needed no prompting. “Kranow, you are the best thing to ever happen to me. You have been my rock and my support as I struggled to stand once more; to make right the harm I’ve done. Whatever I do will never be enough, but know that with you forever by my side, I know I can accomplish anything. You are my courage, my heart’s song, my soul’s true half. You journeyed across space hoping to find me, and I am humbled by the greatness of the love you seek to share with me with your every breath. Know that I will forever strive to be worthy, and that my heart only sings for you.”
“Let it be known that by the office of celebrant granted to me by the great state of Florida, I pronounce these two every bit as married as they are mated. Now, get your kiss and let’s party!” Steven crowed. Cheers and wild whistles broke out as the couple kissed passionately.
Junrig glanced down at Maisie. “Come, I know where the buckets and shovels are in the car,” he said, shepherding her and the twins away, ignoring the faces the two boys were making in response to the kiss.
Melissa trailed behind them, carrying Lapresh, stopping to sit in the shade, her back leaning against a picnic table. She glanced up as Steven stood over her.
“Want me to watch him for you while you go get the cakes? Or would you rather one of us come with you?” he asked, gentle concern in his eyes.
“Yeah, do you mind? He can sit in the car with you while I nip in once we get there. Should only take a minute or two to get them, they’ll have them waiting in the freezer.”
“Sure, just let me tell Gundar where we’re going. Not that he’s likely to notice now that he has a drink in his hand and is about to demonstrate the manly art of the barbecue to my son. I don’t think he’ll mind keeping an eye on him while we’re gone.”
Melissa giggled, enjoying the cool breeze against her skin as she waited for Steven to return. Moments later, Lapresh safely buckled back into his rear-facing seat, they were reversing out of the parking spot and on their way to Niceville.
“So is it Nice-ville, like Nice, France, or Nice, like everyone is nice?” Steven asked her idly.
“Like everyone is nice,” she replied.
“Dang, that’s a reputation and half to have to live up to.”
“I used to drive the kids up here to play at Little Boggy and we’d also come for the Mullet Festival.”
“The do what, now?”
“The Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival. It’s a music festival and there are food and arts and crafts booths,” she explained.
“You’re making that up,” he accused.
“No, really, it’s a thing. You ever watch True Blood?”
“Uh, yeah,” he sassed. “I didn’t live under a rock, you know.”
“Sam Merlotte always had those t-shirts, right? Well, one episode, he wore one from the Mullet Festival.”
“Get out of town. I’m gonna have to rewatch those to see if you’re pulling my leg, now.”
“I should look to see when the next one is. It’s family friendly, so we could all head down and bring the kids, too. And if you really want to see him in the shirt, it’s season two, episode three.”
Steven grinned. “Remind me when we get back to the ship. Hey, if we go, do we have to wear our hair in a mullet? ‘Cuz I won’t go here.”
“Naw. The mullet they are talking about is a fish. You can eat mullet dogs and stuff at the festival.”
“Okay, that makes more sense, kinda. Of, we’re here, already!” he said as Melissa pulled into the parking lot.
“Yup, I’ll be right back,” she said, parking the car before unbuckling and getting out. “I’ll leave the car on so y’all can have the A.C.”
“Thank God for that,” Steven muttered. “It’s hot as hell out here. If it’s this hot at nearly six o’clock, I don’t want to show my face outside at noon.”
Chapter Thirty
Kranow watched his bride as she laughed with her friends, frolicking in the gentle surf that teased at their feet.
The Commander stood next him, a faint smile playing about hips lips. That smile was replaced by a frown as he received a message on his kunnarskyn. Reading it, Gundar clapped a hand to Kranow’s shoulder and said, “We need to speak.” Kranow wasn’t surprised to note that Sachuu stood watching them and appeared to be waiting, having obviously received the same message as the commander.
Sachuu met them halfway as they crossed the sand towards him. “Come, let us walk. It will look less disruptive,” he said, passing them each a can of soda. The three males opened their cans and took sips, taking care to relax their shoulders. They began meandering along the edge of the dunes. To anyone watching, they appeared to be exploring the beach and chatting.
“I presume you received the results,” Sachuu asked Gundar. Kranow did not need to ask what was being testing.
“Indeed. The question before us remains why, however.” Gundar leveled a look at Kranow. “Results of the blast indicate that the device was set by Jackie O’Hannigan’s personal assistant.”
“The talk show host’s personal assistant?” Kranow’s brow furrowed. “I don’t understand.”
“Neither do we, as yet. But we will,” Sachuu said grimly. “Say nothing for now. They are in critical condition, so we are unable to question them. But we can observe O’Hannigan herself. If the assistant did this on her orders, we’ll find out soon enough.”
Kranow (Mate the Stars Book 4) Page 12
