V'hor's Nestmate

by Michelle Howard

  It didn’t, but Vee nodded anyway. Eva shooed him with her hands. “Now go and I’ll get dressed.”

  After one more glance at the longs legs revealed by the brevity of the drying cloth, Vee left her to get ready. He’d already bathed the night before and couldn’t wait to be in his own clothes once more.

  Vee waited in his living room, but Eva didn’t keep him waiting long. She came out of his bedroom dressed in a pair of clinging black pants and a short sleeve top just as tight in a dark shade of green. On her feet were sturdy boots that stopped beneath her knees. The hair she’d left down and Vee allowed himself a moment to enjoy the sight.

  “Wow.” She eyed his basic uniform. The black fitted pants with the pockets along the thighs and the matching buttoned shirt with high collar. Thigh holsters strapped to his thighs held deadly weapons he used to protect the innocent. “You look like someone with a military background now.”

  Heat burning his cheeks, Vee extended his hand, barely controlling a shiver when their palms met and clasped. “Before we eat, I’d like to check on Bane.”

  “Will he want to see me?” Her brows furrowed as he closed the door behind them and directed her toward the lift.

  “Bane doesn’t blame you for what happened, Eva,” he reiterated.

  Doubt flashed over her face and Vee only hoped his friend would give her the same assurance when they saw him. He pressed the button for level two and kept a watchful eye on Eva. Her eyes stayed on the lit numbers as they descended until the doors slid open on their respective floor. It wasn’t hard to discern her fear and nervous fidgeting.

  The hall was surprisingly empty when there had been a crowd of teammates waiting for additional word on Bane’s condition earlier. Dr. Maku greeted them when they entered. “He’s aware and feeling better. His maman left a little while ago.”

  Bane was seated upright on the bed, a white sheet drawn over his lower half. The corners of his mouth tipped up when he spotted Eva. “It’s good to see my efforts weren’t in vain.”

  Eva let Vee’s hand go and flew to the right side of his bed, leaning forward. “I am sorry. More than you’ll ever know. I wish I had more to say than thanks for what you did for me.”

  Black eyes studied her for a long moment then dropped down to his lap. Regret twisted his expression before he masked the look. Vee followed his gaze and noted Eva’s hand braced on one of Bane’s covered thigh. He joined them and reached for Eva’s wrist to pull her back.

  Bane acknowledged him with a chin lift then faced Eva. “I’m glad you weren’t hurt.”

  “Is there anything I can do? I have nothing right now and I’m going to have to find my way but name it and if I’m in the position to pay you back one day, I will.”

  Bane leaned around Eva and winked at Vee. The gesture released a tight pressure in his chest. “I am not going to settle for any Chosen. I want one with fire.”

  Eva frowned as if trying to follow the statement, but Vee changed the subject and soon they were all engrossed in conversation until Bane yawned. Dr. Maku was there instantly. “It is time for another pain med and sedative. I’ve also consulted a specialist who will vid-conference on the latest in biotronics shortly.”

  “Biotronics?” Vee asked. The high risk practice was for severe measures only since the original purpose and program for cybernetic enhancements had been discontinued after the war with the Vargos.

  “I’m going to step in the hall and let you all talk.”

  Eva was out the door before Vee could stop her. He met Bane’s pain filled eyes. Maku injected him in the arm and the white striations in the black orbs brightened and swirled faster. “What aren’t you telling me, Bane?”

  “There’s no sensation in my legs. Nothing,” he spat. “Dr. Maku believes that implanting biotronics will give me mobility back in my legs, but there’s no guarantee.”

  Vee could only stare, heart pounding at the cost for saving Eva’s life. Bane couldn’t walk. No longer had use of his legs. “I’m sorry, Bane.”

  His friend shifted his hips to the side in the bed and grabbed Vee’s forearm. “Don’t. We are Jutak warriors. We protect. She was an innocent caught in a situation she never should have been in. Blame the Marenians for the slave auctions they hold everywhere. Blame Mannid. Don’t blame yourself and don’t blame the woman who looks at you like you are her saving grace.”

  A lump formed in Vee’s throat. Bane’s career with the Unit was potentially over. He thought of the myriad of things that could go wrong if the biotronics didn’t work. All because he hadn’t followed protocol. He’d allowed feelings to get in the way of a mission for the first time and this was the result.

  “Vee! V’hor!” Bane snapped, fingers biting into Vee’s arm.

  “Eva’s right. We owe you.” He leaned close, placing his face next to Bane’s. His voice was vehement when he declared, “I heard the words you said, but don’t think I will ever forget what you did for me when you saved my nestmate. Mannid would have killed her if she’d taken the damage you took. The protective vest under your shirt shielded you for the most part, but Eva would have perished on the scene.”

  And he would have been lost.

  Bane released Vee’s arm and settled back on the bed. His lids started to close, fatigue drawing his face slack as the drugs Maku used began to work. His voice was little higher than a murmur. “We understand each other then. Remember. When I find my Chosen, I’ll count on you to make sure I don’t lose her.”

  Vee gladly accepted the honor. “I vow it.”

  Bane grinned and slurred his next words. “Your nestmate, huh?”

  “Yes.”

  The answer filled Vee with triumph, but Bane was already asleep.

  Chapter 19

  The next few days were a whirlwind and if Eva admitted it, exhausting. Vee gave her a full tour of the Jutak complex in order for her to have a basic idea of how to navigate and get around if he wasn’t available. He didn’t want her dependent on him and that surprising statement earned him a spontaneous kiss in the hall that one of his teammates caught and teased him about.

  He introduced her to a number of soldiers working out in the state of the art training room, but all she’d managed was a weak smile and finger wave. There were so many of them and she wasn’t quite used to being around large groups of men yet. Especially ones who vibrated with a level of energy that projected a deadly air which could switch in an instant and be turned on her.

  She’d crossed paths with the women during meal times, but hadn’t felt comfortable enough to ask about the shopping trip she desperately needed to get a few more things for herself.

  “How are you feeling?” Vee asked, interrupting her thoughts.

  They lay side by side facing each other in bed. He had an elbow planted on the pillow and used his other hand to glide up her arm, occasionally running his fingers through the strands of hair that had escaped the hasty bun she’d created for bed.

  “Exhausted,” Eva truthfully admitted as she curled her arm under her cheek. “Its been a crazy time trying to get adjusted to everything. Some stuff is easier than the others, you know?”

  Like bed time. Sleeping with Vee was the least stressful thing for her. Maybe because they’d shared a bed on Trios and her trust in resting beside him had started there. Whatever the reason, neither had changed the habit and Eva loved their late night talks. It allowed them both a chance to learn about one another outside their experience at The Pit.

  In fact, matters would have been perfect if she hadn’t sensed something on his mind all day today. He’d completed a training rotation early and spent the afternoon showing her how to use the holo screen for entertainment viewing and then the communicator to contact anyone residing in the building.

  Though he smiled at her quips and nodded in the right places, she didn’t have his full attention. Whatever it was caused his tension to increase as the evening wore on until she’d finally decided to prepare for bed in order to let him have time to himself
.

  He’d joined her later and climbed in beside her wearing the black sleep pants she’d grown quite fond of because of their clinging nature.

  “Is there anything I can do to make it easier on you, Eva?”

  “Kisses. Kisses will go a long way.” Eva leaned over him with wicked intent and pushed at his bare chest.

  He obligingly fell on his back and waited. Green-gold diamonds snapped to life. “Whatever you want.”

  Their lips came together in a tongue twisting reunion laced with passion and curiosity. This was something else she’d grown comfortable with. Kissing him. It never failed during their chats to end in a soft exploration session between their lips.

  They didn’t progress further than that, but the routine habit was its own form of foreplay and she burned inside at the thought of taking it to the next level. Vee cupped her face and eased his head back. “Let me help you, Eva.”

  Wetness gathered between her thighs at his husked words. Caring and kindness was something she was starting to accept without question from Vee. She’d seen him interacting with his teammates. He wasn’t standoffish, but there was a thin line of distance none seemed to cross. But when he summoned her to his side or glanced around the room looking for her, his eyes would heat in a way they didn’t do for anyone else.

  It would have been remiss not to appreciate the physical as well. The picture he made sprawled in the bed, sheets pushed to their hips and all his glorious tanned muscles on display was irresistible. So Eva took all the time needed to look her fill.

  Grazing the dark nipples with her fingertips, she was pleased when he twitched. She caressed the strong column of his throat, pausing only a moment to appreciate the rapid thump of his pulse beneath her touch. “You’ve told me a lot about your love of being a Jutak warrior and your friends here. It’s easy to see the camaraderie among all of you. What about your family? You haven’t mentioned them at all.”

  His entire body stiffened. He braced his elbows and started to rise, but Eva added pressure to the hand rubbing over his chest and he subsided. A disgruntled look mixed with an emotion she couldn’t identify flashed too quick to label. “There isn’t much to tell.”

  “Really? No parents, siblings, nothing?” Eva pursed her lips and tapped a fingernail against the tight bud of his nipple. “Are you from Enotia? Most of them seem to be blond and blue eyed.”

  Vee cleared his throat. “I was born on Serpine. I settled here when I completed the Jutak warriors military academy.”

  That didn’t answer her question. Eva tipped her head down and continued to trace patterns on his chest. The lower half of the covers twitched each time she made contact with his nipples, his arousal creating an intriguing tent. “What about the family you left behind?”

  “Not much to tell. I have three sisters. When I reached my majority, I left everyone behind and came here.”

  “What about your parents? Are they still alive?” Eva tugged the sheet lower, baring the curve of his lean hip and the dusting of light colored groin hair above the black pants. A few more determined tugs and she got them past his knees.

  Vee lurched and grabbed for the sheet with both hands. Eva froze, losing her teasing manner. “I’m sorry, Vee. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

  While they hadn’t pushed the physical side of their relationship, they did touch one another in casual intimacy. Except now that she thought about it, he never let her touch his groin area.

  “It is fine.” Vee covered his lower half and kissed her chin in forgiveness. His face was still flushed but she wasn’t sure if it was embarrassment or anger.

  Maybe she was the one moving too fast. He’d held her off before and always found a reason to move her hand if she played with his cock. Unless...Eva chewed her lower lip then blurted, “Is there a different sex thing I’m missing or messing up?”

  Maybe his people didn’t actually have sex. The flash she’d caught of his man parts through the crack in the door of the cleansing room when he was getting in and out of the shower looked humanish. A normal looking shaft, ball sac below and pubic hair around the base. Of course that didn’t mean alien men used it the way Earth men did.

  “You didn’t do anything wrong, Eva. The fault is mine.” He sighed and turned onto his side again to face her instead of resting on his back. “I believe the basics of sex between our two races are the same. I can’t hurt you and you can’t hurt me.”

  “Not even your poison sperm?”

  He grimaced and tugged gently on a loose strand of her hair in admonishment. “I told you its venomous. I’m given a blocker in addition to other injections as part of being in the military.”

  Not totally sure, but not totally scared either, Eva relaxed and slid her hands into the hair at his nape. “Tell me more about your people. The biggest difference.”

  “Males on Serpine are raised with one directive. Protect, shelter and serve a female. I’ve grown in many ways with my time on Enotia, but at heart I am Serpine. It’s in my nature to treat you a certain way.”

  That wasn’t what Eva had expected, but it explained his gentle manner toward her from the moment they’d met. It was intrinsic. She continued to caress his hair, noting the way his lids fluttered closed in sensation. “So you’ll do anything I say.”

  Vee’s eyes flicked open as he snorted, the corners of his lips curling upward. “No.”

  Eva pretended to pout. Vee ran a hand down her side and held her hip firm as he spoke again. “I derive pleasure out of pleasing you. Seeing your happiness increases my own joy. But that does not make me,” he paused as if searching for the right word. “servile. There’s a difference between the nesting instinct and servility for my people. I’m not sure how else to explain it except many males work hard at keeping their female happy, but they work just as hard protecting them even if it earns them displeasure. I wouldn’t knowingly let you do something that would harm you. What purpose would that serve other than to endanger the one I seek to love forever?”

  Talk about throwing a lot of things her way at once. Eva focused on the first. “Nesting instinct. What’s nesting instinct?”

  He groaned as she scratched his scalp and dragged her nails through the layered waves. “The prelude to finding a life partner. Chosen. Your Earth process for marriage. For Serpines it’s a biological urge.”

  Insecurity crashed through Eva. They hadn’t spoken much about the future since he’d first asked her to stay here with him. “You want this nesting instinct with me?”

  “Of course.” His eyes widened. “In my heart you are the one who should be my nestmate.”

  “Because I’m chupaja.”

  Vee grinned. It was just as devastating now as it had been when he wore another face. He leaned forward to place a soft kiss on her lips and whispered, “Yes.”

  “I don’t know if I’m ready for full blown sex, but are other things on the table?”

  “Of course. Whatever you want, Eva. Always.”

  Eva sat up, suddenly excited to take them to the next level with his agreement. If she’d been nervous before she wasn’t any longer. She knew Vee wouldn’t push her further than either of them was ready to go. “Lay on your back again.”

  He did so without hesitation. Eva cupped his shoulder, squeezed then slid down his muscled arm. She repeated the caress in the opposite side, pleased when his breath caught, but he held still beneath her touch.

  “You’re so hard. Everywhere,” she added with a sly grin.

  ***

  Eva’s proximity and her touches stirred his desire to the boiling point. His cock was full and aching, every brush against his sleep pants, torturous. She sat on her knees beside him and slid her hands low, her objective obvious as she bypassed his torso. Vee tensed then forced his muscles to relax. It was only fair to allow her to explore him fully since he intended to do the same in return.

  When she slid her hands into the waist to remove his pants, he forced himself to lift up. His trembles weren’t
all from arousal. The material glided down his thighs and Eva moved along with them until she’d slipped them over his feet.

  “Hmmm. No underwear.” On her way back up, she cupped his cock and his legs closed slightly. “Did I do something wrong?”

  He could lie, but that would be wrong in this intimate moment between them. Truth or avoidance? Vee wasn’t sure how she’d react and still wasn’t comfortable with having a female touch him in an area he’d always viewed as shameful.

  “Vee?”

  “No. Nothing wrong. But I should explain.” He placed his hand over the fingers she had hovering over his cock. “A Serpine male has a groin slit.”

  Her gaze darted down as he knew it would. She wouldn’t find what she sought.

  “When aroused the groin slit parts and the seed pouch fully emerges.”

  He directed her hand downward to the base of his shaft where his groin slit would have been. “Erection occurs as the cock grows from the pouch leaving the seed to form a swollen sac here.”

  He pressed her fingers to his hanging seed sac beneath his cock. “After sex sharing, the cock retracts back into the seed sac and the seed sac retracts into the groin slit. I’m not like that. My cock is external at all times and my seed sac stays fully exposed. On Serpine, it would be considered a deformity and shameful. Some might view it as a lack of control due to my inability to retract.”

  Eva had remained quiet, letting him speak. When he finished he closed his eyes, afraid to see the disgust on her face. With her free hand she tipped his chin up, forcing him to meet her stare. “On Earth our men are exposed all the time down here. You’ve had to see other men like this. There’s nothing abnormal about it. In fact, if you had a groin slit and pouch thing, I might be more hesitant. I like that you resemble what I’m used to down below.”

  Her gaze encouraged and Vee released the breath he’d drawn. “Yes, I know. But it is proof I am not full Serpine.”

  “I gather that’s a big deal?”

  Vee snorted. “My Matire is the Supreme Matire and ruler of our world. It is proof she cheated on my father. Or rather the man I call my father.”