by Ava Ross
Mila gulped and fisted the front of his shirt.
Chee-chee chirped.
Kral chuckled as she clung to him while around them, his family also rose into the air, lifted by the vines.
They were deposited on a broad, smooth branch extending far into the upper branches of the tree.
Kral’s arm loosened as Mila looked around.
“Wow. This is gorgeous,” she said softly.
Kral kissed her. “Welcome home, my love.”
Twenty-Six
Kral
When Hantir moved to follow him and Mila home, Kral lifted one ridged eyebrow.
Hantir’s gaze dropped to his feet, and he backed away. He bowed and slunk in the other direction, toward his residence, without another word.
“Feast I will prepare for,” Riella said, seemingly unaware of Hantir’s actions. She grabbed Mila’s shoulders and gave her a kiss on each cheek. “Again welcome, new niece. See you at feast, I shall.”
Mila smiled, bemused, and when Sereel stepped forward to kiss her cheeks as well, Mila returned the favor.
As his aunt and friend took the vine bridge connecting this platform to another tree, Mila watched. “This place is amazing. And you live here, in the trees?” She snorted. “I thought we’d arrive and find regular homes like I remember from Earth. That’s what I saw in the city and in the countryside as we traveled here.”
“Are you disappointed?” What if she was? Could he live in another way? He would try, because he wanted her to be happy.
“Not at all.” Her easy smile made him see he had nothing to worry about.
“You will enjoy living in the sky,” he said, putting an arm around her waist. “I will show you our home, and you will be happy.” He bared his fangs in a teasing smile. He wasn’t as “cocky” as he behaved. Sometimes, he acted that way to bring on Mila’s smile. “Your feet, too.”
“Show me,” she said eagerly. Her eyes sparkled. “I want to see it all.”
He led her in the other direction, across a rope bridge, this one spanning a long stretch.
She gulped. “How far up are we?”
“One-quarter klek.”
“Which means nothing to me.” Gripping the rail with one hand, the other keeping Chee-chee tucked close to her side, she looked down. “I’d say we’re at least forty, fifty feet up. Why so high off the ground and not, say, twenty feet? Is it tradition or…?”
“Long ago, the Vikir built homes in the trees to find safety from creatures who hunt on the ground but cannot climb trees.”
She shivered. “What kind of creatures are we talking about?”
“The dangerous one live deeper in the mountains. They rarely come to this area, and only then when they are drawn by the scent of blood.”
“Is that what your aunt meant when she asked if I had cuts?”
He nodded. “Any injury is bound quickly. The scent of blood stirs their hunger.”
Wasn’t that lovely? Mila shuddered but shoved aside her unease. Kral wouldn’t bring her here if it wasn’t safe. “I’ll avoid getting cut, then.” As she stared around, she sighed with happiness. “Despite the blood-scenting creatures and the awe-inspiring plunge to the ground, this place is incredible. I love it already.”
His shoulders loosened. He wasn’t sure why, but he’d feared she’d find this way of life too different after what she was used to on Earth. That was partly why he hadn’t shared exactly where his people lived. He’d heard humans lived much like Vork did in the city, and that wasn’t the life for Kral. He’d hoped Mila would see his home and love it as much as he did.
“Let me show you our home,” he said, taking her hand. He led her along the bridge to a platform connecting ten bridges spanning out like spokes on a wheel.
“I’m going to get lost,” she said with a laugh as she followed him across another bridge to another platform. “How many bridges are there here?”
“Too many to count. Remember, there are over two thousand Vikir in my clan. Each family has a private dwelling, and each family has built their home in their individual tree.”
“It’s amazing.” She gawked around. “The flowers are gorgeous. The leaves are stunning. And you…” She jumped up and gave him a quick kiss, making the bridge sway when she landed. “You’re the best of all.”
He wasn’t sure his chest could contain all the feelings inside.
“What’s that flower called?” she asked, pointing.
“Creeping chloey vine.” His voice came out husky with emotion. This woman…his woman. He couldn’t imagine being without her. “It…blooms at dusk.”
“Does it get cold here?”
“In winter, we need to wear thicker furs, and we do get snow, but it melts once the sun rises.” He pointed to the distant mountain range peeking through the trees. “At the higher elevations, once it starts snowing late fall, the snow sticks until spring.”
“Like on Earth in the northern parts of my country.”
When they approached his residence, he watched her face.
After the fire, he’d lived with his aunt until he’d built himself a house in this tree. Scars from the fire still remained a few levels below Kral’s home, where his father had built the home for Kral’s mother.
When Kral’s father pushed him out the window to save him from the fire, Kral had fallen to the platform below, breaking his leg in three places.
He’d never forgive himself for not waking in time to get his parents out. They said his mother died of smoke inhalation, that she wasn’t aware of a thing, but his father had known. After saving Kral, he’d burned to death trying to get to Kral’s mother.
Kral had found living in the same tree he’d grown up in…bittersweet. He swore he heard his mother calling his name, and more often than not, he’d hear a sound and turn to ask his father something, only to find he was alone in the room. But he took comfort in feeling them near.
Silly, but sometimes he spoke to them, and he swore they listened.
He stopped halfway across the bridge and tugged Mila against his chest and wrapped his arms around her. “I built this home with my own hands,” he whispered in her ear. “I dreamed of someday sharing it with a mate.” Emotion clogged his voice. “With you.”
“Kral.” She turned in his arms and rose onto her toes to kiss him. “I can’t wait to see it. Show me?”
He led her the rest of the way and stopped at the door. “There is an Earth tradition Lily shared with me.”
“Which one?” she said with a laugh. “We have a lot of traditions.”
“I want to bring in a tree and decorate it during the winter, for your Chrestmiss.”
“Kral. That would be wonderful! We can sing carols and string popcorn, and I’ll stuff a stocking for you.”
“Why would you stuff my stocking?”
“You’ll see.” She winked at him. “Christmas is my favorite holiday.”
He smacked his forehead with his palm. “Of course. Chrissmass.”
“Sort of.” She smiled and looked around. “Which Earth tradition do you plan to honor right now?”
He swept her off her feet and into his arms. After nudging open the front door with his foot, he stepped inside. “I am carrying you over the holdthresh.”
Twenty-Seven
Mila
Mila wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled as big as she could. After Kral whispered about this being the same tree where he’d grown up, she’d felt his pain like a knife through her heart.
His voice had broken. Kral, the guy she’d fallen head over heels for, was hurting, and there wasn’t much she could do about it except hug him and show him she cared.
She understood loss, having nursed her dad when he was sick, only to watch him die while she sat at his bedside, holding his hand. At least she’d been able to say goodbye. That comfort had been taken from Kral.
But this moment was for living, not mourning.
And her big, hot, alien fiancé was carrying her over the holdthr
esh. She’d fill him in on the right word later. Or not. It didn’t matter. How often would they discuss thresholds?
“Am I supposed to put you down?” He asked as he stood inside the small entryway.
A quick look around showed three doors off the short hall. The one to the left led to a living room area with hand-hewn chairs covered with squishy-looking, colorful cushions. Bright and cheery. A thick fur rug lay in front of a fireplace along one wall and, okay, yeah, she was eager to lounge on the fur, in front of a crackling fire. With Kral, of course.
The ceilings were high and made up of beams covered with a tan material she didn’t recognize.
“I think you’re supposed to carry me off to your bedroom and ravish me,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows. “Would you? Please?” She was overdue for ravishment.
“Is that part of the Earth tradition?”
She tightened her arms around his shoulders. “No idea, but it sounds like we should make it our tradition, right?”
“Right.” He strode forward and swept her through the door ahead. A short, curved hall beyond led to a bright room with cabinets, indicating a kitchen.
“How did you build all this in a treetop?” she asked, her jaw dropping further whenever she looked around.
“Some of our home is built within the tree itself.”
“And that doesn’t kill the tree?” They were huge, but how could they live if their insides were…scooped out?
“The insides have a wide, natural channel. We Vikir have a relationship with our trees. They allow us to build on their shoulders and within them, and in exchange…”
“What do you give them in exchange?”
“Music. You will see tonight.”
“That’s vague. Will you give me a better hint?” She teased his naanans, and he released a muffled groan.
“No more hints.” He nudged his head to the right. “There is a small bathing chamber behind that door. Most of us use the larger zither pools nearby, and I will show you tomorrow.”
Bathing with the fishies? She couldn’t wait. Maybe. But if Crakairian women enjoyed the experience, so would Mila. She was determined to become a Vikir as soon as possible, boodlers included.
“The next door on the left wall leads to a small study or…” He ducked his face and fumbled with the knob.
“Or…?”
“It could also be a room for a youngling.”
“Ah. Let’s start that ravishment and see what we can do about creating a youngling.”
“Mila,” he breathed.
“I want your children.”
“Same-sies.”
She laughed. He was picking up English slang quickly.
After opening the door, he took her into a big bedroom built within the center of the tree.
She tipped her head back and her mouth dropped open. “Wow. And you built all this yourself?”
“With Josik’s help.”
There was no true ceiling, just a dome of glass—or what she believed was glass—at the top, where the tree opened up to the sky. Late-day sunlight slanted through the windows, chasing away the shadows.
“It’s gorgeous.” She stared up at him, and seeing the lines of grief on his face wrenched her insides sideways. “If you want, we can go to the living room and talk. All that ravishment talk is a tease. You’re in pain, and I want to help you feel better.”
His face lightened, and he seemed to shrug off his sadness. “Are you suggesting I lose my chance at ravishment? Never.” He bared his fangs, and his eyes sparkled with happiness. “So many nights I dreamed of sharing this room with my mate, and now I will.”
He kicked the door shut and crossed the room to lower her carefully onto the bed.
As she ditched her clothing fast, he stripped, tossing aside his shoes and the pants and shirt he’d been given by Vork at the spaceport.
He tumbled down onto the bed beside her and, growling, nuzzled her neck and wrapped his arms around her. “At last, I have you where I want you. In my bed and in my arms.” He lifted his head and bared his fangs, looking boyish and cocky, all at the same time. “And in my heart.”
“Kral. I love you.”
His smile fell, replaced by a look of pure satisfaction. The black in his eyes eclipsed the surrounding blue band, and he pressed his face into her neck. “Mila.” His heavy, gruff tone made her chest ache.
“I hope it’s okay to tell you that. We’ve had what some people call a whirlwind relationship. It’s been fast and hot, but to me, it feels real.”
“You…” He shook his head. “I…You—we—mean so much to me.”
“This is the beginning of our lives together, here in your—our—home.”
“I want to kiss you and love you forever.”
She smirked. “Then let’s start that now.”
He growled again and kissed her, his mouth heavy on hers. His body rose over hers, but he braced himself on his strong forearms so as not to crush her.
She loved the heat that exploded inside her whenever they touched. She was wet for him already, and when he lifted his head, she could tell he knew, because he gave her another cocky grin.
His lips smoothed as he lowered himself down her body. “Let me give you your first orgasm in our home.” When he looked up, his eyes smoldered. “I want to taste it on my tongue, feel it beneath my fingers, and hear it when you scream my name.”
If he kept up the steamy conversation, she was going to come from his words alone. But she didn’t want that. She wanted to fall apart with him pumping into her. Although, she’d be happy with a welcome home orgasm since he’d offered.
Parting her legs, he closed his eyes and inhaled. “You smell fantastic. Like spice and musk and desire for me. There is no headier scent.”
Some girls would’ve pinched their legs together as embarrassment flooded their faces. Not Mila. She bent her knees to give him easier access. There was no place in their bed for embarrassment. She wanted to savor every moment, each sigh and groan they created together.
He licked her, and she bucked beneath him, wanting more.
With a chuckle, he kept licking, lathing her opening and clit with his forked, slightly scratchy tongue.
She thrashed her head and fisted the blankets. Shit, she was gonna come right away.
No, no. Hold back. She wanted to feel it forever, not spend it fast. Her body jerked, refusing her mind’s command, and she shuddered.
“Yes, love,” he said, his fingers stroking her and a naanan vibrating on her clit. “Like that. Give it to me.”
She rode the wave to the shore as he rose over her.
Lifting her legs, he pushed himself inside her, the exquisite stretch he delivered as exciting as if this was their first time together.
He lowered himself down onto his forearms and kissed her while moving. His thrusts, slow and deep, sparked a fire inside her all over again.
They moved with their gazes locked, heat growing until their cries echoed in the room.
As she built to another orgasm, he rose and lifted her legs over his shoulders, then slammed into her until they crested the peak and crashed down the other side together.
While he rained kisses on her face and neck, she laughed, because it tickled.
She must have dozed, because a scratching sound on the front door woke her.
“Kral?” Hantir called. “Kral?”
“We will ignore him,” Kral said softly.
Could they do it for the rest of their lives?
“He knows we’re here,” Mila said with a sigh. “Shit, he probably knows what we’re doing.”
“What else would a newly mated couple do but fuck?”
“Good point, but—”
Hantir scratched on the door again. “Kral? Sorry I am to bother you, but…”
“Maybe he just wants to tell you something quick.” Mila tapped his side. “Go listen and then come back to bed.” She wiggled her eyebrows and pretended to leer.
He frowned as if he was wor
ried she’d gotten something in her eye.
So much for her suggestive technique; it needed work.
“I am sure it is nothing,” he said softly.
“Kral?” Hantir said. “Message I have my mother from.”
“I love my aunt,” Kral said. “But sometimes…” Grumbling, he levered himself off the bed. He wrapped a wide strip of leather around his legs and waist and suddenly wore a decent loincloth. Leaving the bedroom, he stalked into the hall. Their low voices reached Mila as she rolled onto her side and snuggled the covers. If Kral took too long, she’d fall asleep again. But then he could wake her up…
He returned to the room moments later. “I have to leave. I am sorry.”
Frowning, she turned to face him. “Is everything okay?”
“Two males have come to blows about a felled wildarn. As leader of my clan, it is my role to intervene.” He tugged on his pants and pulled a shirt from the closet. “I do not believe this can wait until tomorrow.”
She sat up. “Will you be gone long? Maybe I could go with you.” While she didn’t mind waiting here alone, there was no time like the present to meet those living in the village. She had no idea what a wildarn was, but she would learn.
He leaned over her and gave her a lingering kiss. “Stay here. Maybe take a nap? We have been running and fighting for what feels like forever. I will settle this and return quickly.” When he wiggled his thick eyebrows, she smiled. He had known what she’d meant when she tried a suggestive leer.
After he left, locking the door behind him, she dozed. He was right; she was tired. For the first time, she could fully relax and let sleep drag her away. Even while traveling here, she’d only half-slept, afraid other pirates would attack. Too many bad things had happened for her to fully relax her guard.
She dreamed someone was calling her name…
…And woke to a scratch at the door.
“Mila?” Riella called. “There are you?”
Here was she.
Feeling a twinge of shame for mocking Kral’s kind aunt, even if it was only in her mind, she rose from the bed and dressed quickly before striding out into the hall.
