by Zoey Draven
When she’d brought all this up to Tavak, wondering how he might feel about it, he’d only told her, “Whatever makes you happy makes me happy. I want children with you, vellia, you know this. I never thought I’d be a father. Ever. But I know with certainty that I will be to the little ones that we will create together. I can be patient. Because I know that the best things in this life come with patience.”
The next day, they’d gone to the Laoti healer that was helping Eve with her pregnancy. And though the healer was a little eccentric, they’d purchased a contraception implant for Stella, though it was pricey. Tavak had said he would take the implant but Stella didn’t want him to. He’d been forced to take one for the last decade, after all.
Stella sighed, wiping down the bar slab one last time, one of the only original things that remained of Reji’s old tavern. The bar was officially called Vellia—which Tavak told her meant something akin to ‘shining light’ in the old Keriv’i language, a pet name he’d been calling her from the beginning.
But most simply called the bar ‘Stella’s’ now, especially the regular patrons. They’d managed to keep it running during the nights, as best as they could with all the work they were doing. They’d hired another bartender as well, a Laoti female named Jennui, and the extra help was a lifesaver.
Stella wiped her hands on the cloth, hanging it neatly along the new back wall Tavak had installed. She walked to the entrance of the cellar and leaned in the doorway. Her male was kneeling, the material of his pants stretched tight over his taut backside. Stella let her eyes run over him, watched the muscles in his back flex and shift under his tunic as he pounded away through the existing stone flooring, which was cracked and grimy with age.
She almost sighed. How’d she ever get so lucky as to have such a handsome mate like him?
Tavak paused in his work, flashing her a look over his shoulder. One she recognized. Stella bit her lip, shifting. She realized he’d probably scented her arousal, even in the cellar.
“You can’t stay away,” he teased, though there was a smug tone in his voice, one that drove her absolutely crazy. “Can you, mellkia?”
Ever since they’d returned to Dumera, there had been a change in Tavak. One for the better. He smiled more easily. Laughed often, especially when it was just the two of them or when they were with their friends. Around others, or strangers, he always seemed like his old self, a little cold and surly, but Stella knew he was just cautious. His nature would never be inherently trusting. There would always be a part of him that was wary of people and he had every right to feel it.
There were still times when she’d wake him up from his own nightmares, when he’d thrash on the bed, and growl in his sleep. And for a brief moment when she woke him, there was a look in his eyes that she’d always interpreted as fear. As if he’d forgotten everything. As if he believed he was back on Everton or Jrika. Seeing it would always break her heart a little bit.
That look would always abruptly disappear, however, when she murmured his name and stroked his face. When she’d kiss him, wanting to comfort him. And Tavak would crush her to him, sometimes actually shaking with relief when he realized that it had been just a dream.
It didn’t happen often but it happened enough. With time, Stella hoped it would become less and less frequent, especially when Tavak realized that she wasn’t going anywhere, that they were building something together, on Dumera, and nowhere else.
“I’m just admiring my mate,” she responded, her tone casual, flashing him a small smile. “And the way he is very good with his hands.”
Tavak rocked back onto his heels and stood. When he prowled towards her, Stella grinned. Maybe a little break wouldn’t be so bad after all.
“And you say I’m bad,” he murmured, pressing her into the cracked frame of the door, one of the last projects they needed to finish.
The upstairs was already completely done, transformed from a small bedroom back into a comfortable office. Tavak had also reinforced the stairs, and with the help of Khiva and Dravka, it had taken no time at all.
“My Rut’s coming,” he murmured, dragging his hand up her thigh, sliding the dress up.
Anticipation made her belly quiver.
“You can feel it?” she asked, a little breathless, already mentally preparing herself for the week after it that she wouldn’t be able to walk.
“Pax,” he purred. “Time to test out that implant you got.”
Stella laughed but it quickly turned to a breathless gasp as Tavak’s wandering fingers trailed between her thighs. He growled when he found her wet.
He kissed her hard and thoroughly, using that tongue and those fingers to melt her brain and make her dizzy.
“Insatiable male,” she whispered against his lips, tilting her head back.
He pressed closer. “You love it.”
She grinned. Yes. Yes, she did.
“And I love you,” he murmured, making her belly flutter with those sweet, sweet words she never got tired of hearing. He told her every single day, as if he was afraid she’d forget.
Every day, she fell in love with him a little bit more, even though she didn’t think it was possible.
Tavak pulled her up, wrapping her leg around his waist, pinning her to the door.
“And I will spend the rest of our lives loving you,” he promised her.
Stella gave him a smile. A smile which he’d told her had been the beginning of it all.
“That sounds like a perfect plan to me.”
WANT TO READ MORE
BY ZOEY DRAVEN?
THE ALIEN’S PRIZE
BLURB:
Welcome to Luxiria, where the twin suns are hot and the alien warriors are hotter…
Kate Harper finally had everything going on back on Earth: her dream job, a kickass best friend, and an apartment completely void of her cheating ex. That is, until she wakes up, cuffed and naked, on an alien planet/fight club known as the Pit. Worse? Aliens fight to the death to be able to claim their prize: human pleasure mates. Even worse? She realizes she’s one of them.
Vaxa’an, the Prime Leader of Luxiria, has a duty to his warrior species: continue their race. Infamously ruthless and deadly, the Luxirian knows he’ll have no trouble claiming a Breeder at the Pit. What he doesn’t expect to find is his fated mate, with her lush curves and tempting body. And he will stop at nothing to claim her.
When Kate becomes the warrior alpha’s prize, her only goal is getting back to the life she was taken from. Certainly not to fall for the sexy, overbearing barbarian with a wicked tongue, who is determined to make her his own…
READ FREE WITH KU!
CAPTIVE OF THE HORDE KING
(HORDE KINGS OF DAKKAR #1)
Top 100 Amazon Bestseller
#1 in Science Fiction Romance Bestseller
Available now!
She made a deal with the Dakkari devil. Now, he owns her.
On the unforgiving planet of Dakkar, I did what all the humans in our village did: kept my head down, worked to provide for my family, and I certainly didn’t break any Dakkari laws to risk inciting the alien race’s merciless wrath.
Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said for my brother and one careless mistake brings a horde of the nomadic, barbarian Dakkari straight to our doorstep, led by their powerful horde king—a cold, ruthless, battle-scarred warrior demanding retribution.
In order to save my brother’s life, I do the unthinkable.
I sell myself to the horde king as his war prize. I agree to warm his furs, to travel with his horde across the wild lands of Dakkar, and to never see my family again.
But as I struggle with my new reality, I discover that the surly, mysterious, dominant horde king never intended for me to be his concubine…
He wants me as his queen.
Captive of the Horde King is a full-length SFR novel (85,000+ words) with an HEA. It kicks off a brand new series, Horde Kings of Dakkar, by Zoey Draven. Each book follows a different couple
and can be read as a standalone.
Available now!
Want to hear about new releases, exclusive giveaways, and get access to bonus content?
Click this link to sign up for my mailing list!
WANT MORE SEXY, ALPHA ALIENS FROM ZOEY DRAVEN?
Warriors of Luxiria:
The Alien’s Prize
The Alien’s Mate
The Alien’s Lover
The Alien’s Touch
The Alien’s Dream
The Alien’s Obsession
The Alien’s Seduction
The Alien’s Claim
Warrior of Rozun:
Wicked Captor
Wicked Mate
The Krave of Everton:
Kraving Khiva
Prince of Firestones
Kraving Dravka
Kraving Tavak
Horde Kings of Dakkar:
Captive of the Horde King
Claimed by the Horde King
Madness of the Horde King
Broken by the Horde King
Audiobooks:
Visit this link for Zoey’s audiobook versions!
Did you like Kraving Tavak?
Want to see more of this series?
If you want more, please consider leaving a quick review on Amazon. I’d like to know if you want to read Ravu’s story!
Click this link to leave a review!
It’s much appreciated!
Love, Zoey
About the Author
Zoey Draven has been writing stories for as long as she can remember. Her love affair with the romance genre started with her grandmother's old Harlequin paperbacks and has continued ever since. As a Top 100 Amazon bestselling author, now she gets to write the happily-ever-afters—with a cosmic, otherworldly twist, of course! She is the author of steamy Science Fiction Romance books, such as the Warriors of Luxiria and the Horde Kings of Dakkar series.
When she's not writing about alpha alien warriors and the strong human women that bring them to their knees, she's probably drinking one too many cups of coffee, hiking in the redwoods, or spending time with her family.
Visit her at www.ZoeyDraven.com.
