by Hope Hart
“I’m so happy you’re doing this, Zoey. I know it’s difficult after everything that’s happened, but I’ve never seen anyone love someone the way Tagiz loves you.”
I blink back tears at that, and she smiles at me. “It’s hard, isn’t it? Being brave enough to take the leap. But as someone who finally jumped…it’s worth it. And I promise, Tagiz will be there to catch you.”
Tagiz isn’t in the training arena when I go looking for him. I finally find him in the healers’ kradi, where Moni is changing the bandage on his hand, and my heart flips in my chest at the reminder of the flowers he brought me.
“How’s it looking?” I ask as I approach, and Tagiz’s free hand whips out, pulling me close. I allow it, and he looks surprised, although the surprise quickly changes to pure male satisfaction as my breasts are suddenly at his eye level.
“No permanent damage,” Moni says. “Three more days of the bandage and then it can come off. And maybe this warrior will learn not to pick poisonous flowers, hmm?”
Tagiz grins at me. “It was worth it.”
Butterflies are swarming in my stomach, and I blow out a breath. “Can I talk to you?”
His grin drops, and his gaze searches my face. I hate that I’ve put that uncertainty in his eyes.
He nods, dropping my hand and getting to his feet. From the set of his shoulders, I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m going to ask him to leave me alone.
“Take me to the stream?”
He tenses further, and I sigh. I bet he doesn’t want to ruin his favorite place with the memory of me telling him it’s over.
“Please?”
He nods, but he won’t meet my eyes as he leads me toward the stream. I ignore the whispers and gazes on us as we walk through camp, and then I’m wiping my sweaty hands on my dress as the water rushes past in front of us.
“Tagiz—”
“I know what you’re going to say, Zoey, and I understand. You deserve better than the way I treated you. Rakiz has offered me a position as envoy to some of the other tribes who fought with us in the last battle. I won’t bother you anymore.”
Wait. What?
Panic bubbles in my chest. I’m such an idiot. I waited too long, and now I’ve lost him.
“Tagiz—”
“It’s okay, little healer. I only wish I had not taken so long to see what was in front of my face. You are the most incredible female I have ever known, and I will wait for you…even if you never choose me, I will be waiting.”
I blink at that.
“Tagiz—”
“I will leave—”
“Tagiz!”
I cut him off, and he frowns at me. I hoped to do this in a much more romantic way, but the idea of him leaving…
No.
I thrust my hand into my pocket and pull out the gold mating bands. Malis helped me make them, and it seemed oddly fitting she would contribute to the design.
Tagiz stares at me, and I swallow around the lump in my throat.
“Do you still want me?”
He strides toward me, pulling me into his arms. “Tell me you’re serious, little healer.”
I nod. “I’m sorry it took so long for me to get it. I have shit in my past that made it difficult for me to trust you. But I do. Trust you, I mean. I trust you more than anyone I’ve ever met. You helped me live—in every way that counts. You gave me something to live for, and I was so scared, so fucking terrified I was going to lose you, that I shut down. I could barely look at you because the thought of you being mated to someone else, even if you didn’t want it…”
Tears are rolling down my face, and Tagiz wipes away each one, his expression fierce.
“I would wait a lifetime for you, little healer. I would wait until I was about to take my last breath if I knew your face would be the last thing I see.”
I hiccup out a sob, and he smiles down at me. Then he wraps those strong arms around me, surrounding me with his citrus-and-wood scent. I nuzzle in close, and something in my chest relaxes.
“God,” I manage to get out. And then I just stand there, surrounded by him as he leans down and rests his chin on my head, blocking out the whole universe.
He gives me a few moments before stepping back and swinging me up until I’m cradled in his arms.
I shriek as my feet leave the ground. “What are you doing?”
“Taking you back to my kradi before you change your mind.”
I laugh. “I’m not changing my mind, you fool. Put me down.”
I gaze up at his face, and his lower lip juts out just the tiniest bit at my demand as he strides away from the stream and toward the kradis.
I want to bite it.
“You’re mine now,” he says. “That means you live with me.”
“Whoa, someone is turning into a caveman.”
He stops and stares down at me. “You said you were mine.”
I raise one hand, trailing it over the scruff of his cheek. “I am.”
“Good.” He continues walking.
I manage to block out the curious eyes on us because I’m so damn entranced by the mix of stubborn determination and obvious lust on his face.
Within a couple of minutes, he’s stepping into his kradi and striding straight to the furs where we first made love.
My heart is beating so hard I can hear it in my ears. I’m panting out each breath, and I reach for him as he reaches for me, desperate to feel him inside me.
He takes my mouth, and I revel in the feel of him. His tongue strokes against mine, his hand cupping my head, holding me in place for him. I raise my hands to pull him even closer, and he catches my wrists in one of his hands.
I moan out a protest, and he chuckles against my mouth, slowly moving away. His eyes are as dark as I’ve ever seen them and full of triumph.
He raises my hands over my head until I’m clutching at a pillow above me.
“Hold on and don’t let go.”
I pout, wanting to rip his clothes off, and he leans down and nips at my lower lip.
“Do you trust me?”
“You know I do.”
“Then keep your hands up there.”
It takes all my self-control not to move my hands as he begins stripping off his clothes. And I let out a sound as he turns to my dress, slowly pulling it off my body. I raise my hands, just to see what he’ll do, and he instantly presses them back down.
“Next time I’ll tie them,” he warns.
We both blink at the moan that leaves my throat at that idea.
He throws his head back and laughs. Moments later, he’s wrapping some kind of material around my wrists and looping it around something above my head. It’s loose enough I can escape if I need to, but the look in Tagiz’s eyes…
I’ve never been wetter.
He lets out a growl as he finishes removing my dress, his mouth immediately exploring my breasts. One hand finds the soaked heat of me, and he meets my eyes as I blush.
“You’re perfect.”
He doesn’t waste any time, moving his head down until his lips are grazing my clit and my thighs are clenching as I groan. He laps at me, teasing me until I’m begging for more, and then he pushes one large finger inside me, swirling his tongue around my clit like he’ll never get enough.
I want to bury my hands in his hair and pull him closer, and I twist my hips, but I’m completely powerless.
It’s that thought that makes me explode, his name falling from my lips as the orgasm rips through my body.
I’m still trembling from the aftershocks when he slides inside me, not stopping until he’s buried deep and I’m filled with him. He presses kisses against my face and then moves, driving his hips and grinding into my clit with each thrust.
I lose track of time, only focused on the feeling of him deep within me, driving me higher and higher. His gaze meets mine, and my throat tightens. I’m going to be staring into those eyes every day for the rest of my life.
He takes my mouth again, twisting
his hips, and I gasp out a curse.
“Oh God, oh God, oh God,” I chant, already close to coming again. He laughs, but the sound is strangled, and I throw my head back, clamping down around him. I shake through the best orgasm of my life as he empties himself inside me, burying his head in my shoulder as I attempt to catch my breath.
Epilogue
Zoey
I glance up from my worktable as someone calls my name.
“Ellie! How are you?”
She grins at me. “Deep in thought?”
I laugh as I continue mixing the salve I’m working on. “I have a meeting with Nevada and Rakiz later. Just thinking about what to do about the Dokhalls. There was another attack today. Weirdly, they’re not going near the ship right now. Maybe it’s too well guarded and they’re hoping if they annoy Rakiz and Dexar enough, they’ll hand it over.”
Ellie snorts. “If that’s what they think, they haven’t been paying attention to the Braxians. Oh wow, you’re getting so big.”
I glance up from the bowl I’m stirring with a frown. Thankfully, it’s not me she’s talking to. It’s Harry, who is currently curled up under my worktable. He followed me to the healers’ kradi a few days ago and has now obviously decided this is his place. Moni shook her head disapprovingly but muttered that as long as he stayed away from the patients, he could “guard his human.”
Apparently, karja are some of the cleanest animals on Agron.
“Yeah, it’s kind of insane how fast he’s growing. You can pet him if you want.”
Ellie nibbles her lip as she stares at the karja, who opens one eye, a tiny growl escaping his throat as if he’s ordering her to get on with it. Finally, she strokes along his fuzzy head, laughing as he butts it against her hand, looking for more.
“You guys are leaving soon, right?” Ellie looks sad, and I nudge her.
“It’s not for long. We’ll be back and forth.”
I insisted Tagiz take the envoy position under one condition—I could go with him. So in a few days, we’ll go rendezvous with Khax and his warriors and see who else will continue to ally with us against the Dokhalls. The best part? We’re finally going to the Seinex Forest so I can collect some of the herbs, plants, flowers, and mushrooms that grow there.
“I’m still going to miss you. But for now, I need you to come with me,” Ellie says.
I raise one eyebrow, but she’s already gesturing to Moni, who nods. My heart flips in my chest. “Has something happened? Is it Tagiz?”
“No, no, nothing like that. Just come with me and don’t ask any questions.”
“Jeez. This is some cloak-and-dagger stuff right here. Okay, then.”
Harry gets to his feet and follows us as we leave the healers’ kradi. It’s already getting dark outside, the days getting shorter. Soon, we’ll have our first winter on Agron.
I’m so lost in thought it takes me a moment to realize where Ellie is taking me.
“You know about this spot too?”
She nods. “I sneak over here when no one is looking.” We pass through the last clump of trees before the stream, and my breath shudders from my lungs.
Candles. And flowers. Everywhere.
Nevada and Beth grin at me as I pass them, and other than Vivian, all my human friends are squeezed into this tiny space. Rakiz nods at me, his daughter in his arms, and my heart pounds even harder as I meet Tagiz’s mom’s eyes.
She beams at me, and I blink at her, confused. She leans forward as I approach her, wrapping her arms around me.
“Tagiz has told me so much about you,” she murmurs. “I can’t wait to have you as a daughter, Zoey.”
All I can do is gape at her, and her smile widens as she steps back. She nods toward the stream, and I turn to where Tagiz is waiting for me.
He looks nervous.
I still have our mating bands in our kradi. We’re waiting until Vivian is back and the Dokhall threat is ended. So what’s going on?
I practically sprint toward Tagiz, and the crowd erupts into laughter as he lifts me into his arms and spins me around. Harry nudges at Tagiz, demanding attention until he pats him on the head, and then the karja loses interest, wandering away.
“What’s going on?” I ask, and Tagiz gives me the crooked grin I love so much.
And then he drops down onto one knee.
Holy shit.
He reaches for my left hand, and I’m so stunned all I can do is stare at him as he holds up a gleaming gold ring.
“Zoey, I love you more than I ever thought possible. I can’t wait to mate with you in the way of my people. But I want more than that. I want everything. I want to be your husband.” He stumbles over the English word slightly, and tears prick my eyes. “I want you to be my wife.” He does better there, and tears begin rolling down my face. “I want to be tied to you in all ways, including the ways of your people. Will you marry me?”
I’m sobbing now, but I let out a strangled sound that he obviously takes as a yes because he pushes the gleaming gold band onto my ring finger.
He gets to his feet, taking my lips as cheers sound around us.
“Where…how…what?”
His eyes laugh at me. “I talked to your human friends. I convinced Dragix to take me to Arix’s marketplace so I could purchase the ring.”
I blink at him. “That was before we were even back together.”
He nods. “I knew I wanted everything from you, Zoey. I would have waited as long as it took.”
“How did I get so lucky?” I murmur, and he laughs.
Harry returns, nudging us with his head until we give him the attention he feels he deserves. Moments later, we’re surrounded by our friends, our family, as they congratulate us.
I don’t know what life holds for us on Agron. We have another war brewing and enemies around every corner. But whatever comes, I’ll face it with Tagiz by my side.
And he’s worth everything.
The End
Authors Note:
Thanks for reading Rescued by the Alien Warrior. At its core, this story is about leaving behind the person you thought you were, and embracing the person you truly are.
It’s never easy, but it’s always worth it. And sometimes, while leaving the past behind, you embrace the future with the person you were always supposed to be with.
If you enjoyed Rescued, I’d love if you could take a moment to leave a review. These help other readers find my books.
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Vivian and Arix’s story is up next and you won’t want to miss it. Click here to preorder Enticed by the Alien Warrior.
Also by Hope Hart
The Arcav Alien Invasion Series
The Arcav King's Mate
The Arcav Commander's Human
The Arcav General's Woman
The Arcav Prince's Captive
A Very Arcav Christmas
The Arcav Captain's Queen
The Arcav Guard's Female
The Warriors of Agron Series
Taken by the Alien Warrior
Claimed by the Alien Warrior
Saved by the Alien Warrior
Seduced by the Alien Warrior
Protected by the Alien Warrior
Captured by the Alien Warrior
Rescued by the Alien Warrior
Enticed by the Alien Warrior
