by Pearl Tate
“Most likely. We have good hearing. I’ve especially noticed an improvement in the last day or so, and it’s probably something to do with the mating.”
“Well, maybe not then, right?” I’m still whispering as I pull up a bit alarmed. “The mated guys went back on the ship, right?”
“Yeah, but almost everyone has mating marks now.” Selas’s eyes crack open as I disengage our bodies, drawing myself up to my knees.
Hopping to my feet, I stand over him, and his eyes drop you where we were just joined. “Want a quick dip before we go?” Shaking my chest, I smile and wiggle my eyebrows.
“I thought I just did that?” Selas’s smile is wide as he throws his hands behind his head and crosses his ankles between my legs casually.
“Hm. Fine.” Turning, I take a couple steps back to dip my toes into the water. Cold, but refreshing. “I’ll be quick.”
Wading out to my knees, I splash water up my legs, acclimating a bit before crouching down. “There’s nothing too weird in this water, right?”
When he doesn’t answer, I look over my shoulder just in time to see him walking in behind me. How did I get so lucky? His body is huge, buff, and beautiful as the light catches the colorful markings decorating his skin. With the sun overhead, I notice a sheen to the markings, similar to his nails—almost a pearlesque color, and it’s as beautiful as the rest of him.
I can sense how important I am to him. Feel it along with his contentment as he moves through the water toward me. What a difference a few days with the right person can make in your life!
He’s my future. I’ll never play second fiddle to… anything. I can totally tell. And I’ll never have to wonder if he cares about anything more than me either. What a revelation…
Right before we touch, the words come out. So naturally, too. “I love you, Selas. I…”
His hands curl around my shoulders, pulling me into his broad chest to squeeze me gently before they loosen and drop down to lift me up to his level. “I love you too, Karen.” Dropping our foreheads together, I wrap my legs around him as he continues to walk out into the deeper water.
This is perfect. Wherever he goes, I know that he’s my new constant, and he’s exactly what I was hoping for. Dedicated, committed, and mine.
CHAPTER THIRTY
- Selas
“Shhhh!” Jenny’s hushed voice echoes from her perch by the surveillance camera where she’s been watching for Karen. Rachel agreed to talk her into going for a bite to eat earlier, so we could swap out the furniture in this conference room for the mats and mirrors that the females suggested.
When I first approached Jo-Anne, who Karen commented was her closest friend, she squealed with anticipation exactly the way I hope Karen will. She asked if I’d discussed it with Karen or if it’d be a surprise. They call this a “surprise party.”
All I know is that I need to show Karen she’s the most important thing to me. More important than my career. More important than Quasar and anyone that may be there now or in the future. She’s it for me!
And I know what she wants. Every morning, she spends time first thing, exercising, spinning her jo, and doing what she calls meditating—which is pretty much identical to our daily reflections. It’s interesting how our societies are so far apart, and yet we’ve so much in common. I suspect our genetics are similar in so many ways.
Every day, she’s adamant and committed to telling me how much she loves me. But she also wants to share what else she loves. Aikido. And even though a part of me doesn’t want to share her, I know the more I give, the more I’ll receive.
So, we’ve turned this conference room into a small studio for her to teach classes. It’s perfect, because it’s right near the medical center and the other conference room where we’re running a tactical office.
All of this is temporary, anyway.
“Almost here!” Jenny whispers loudly again, updating everyone in the space. We’ve set this up super quick since we’ll all be taking off on the Discovery tomorrow for Quasar. Now that we’ve all agreed to a new Accord with the Ashen, they’ve begun their testing of nano changes for the prisoners on Dactyles to be able to leave the planet by the time we return. But for now, Amari and Devlin have been left to run the dome—along with a small army of now mated males with the Ashen.
The door slides open, and we wait a beat before the females all yell, “Surprise!”
“Surprise!”
Voices call out from around the room as Karen and Rachel come in, Karen leading as planned for maximum effect. She’s clutching her chest with her mouth hanging open as I step up and swing her around in my arms in a circle before placing her down in front of the mirrors lining the long wall. “What do you think?”
The females were right. The mirrors make the space look larger, and it makes sense that they’ll be handy to watch your form while training. Karen’s staring at me in the mirrors, her eyes filling with tears.
“If you don’t like something, we can change it…”
“No!” Spinning around, she buries her head in my chest, and I sense the truth—this isn’t sadness, it’s joy.
Blowing out a breath of relief, I put my arms around her, smiling at everyone over her head. “She likes it!”
All the females begin to clap, crowding around and pulling her away. We’ve installed a living area carpet that they say is like a foam mat in a lot of training facilities on Earth. There are numerous places around the perimeter to hang training weapons and store additional items.
When I was first approached by males about learning her Aikido training, my instant thought was no. Not the mother of my children. Not my mate.
But that’s like Atticus not keeping logs on his own body while he goes through the hormonal mating changes. We’re entering a new era for our species. One where we’ll all need to defend ourselves and our mates. Her training may be the difference between success and failure for someone in the future.
Just because Aikido is important in Karen’s life, doesn’t make me any less important. In fact, it’s something that we can share together. My personal goals have shifted so much since she’s entered my life.
“Thank you, honey!” Karen jumps into my arms after circling the room with her friends while they point out the highlights and explain what they want to learn. “You’re the best, you know that?”
Smirking, I give her a cocky grin before pecking her lips with mine and commenting, “I know.”
“You’re lucky you’re so cute, too.”
“I know.”
Shaking her head slowly, she brings her lips to mine for a long, deep kiss as hooting begins around us. I understand now. She’s the most important thing. What she needs… what she wants… as long as we’re together, I want to give her my all.
About Pearl Tate
I’m super excited to be spreading my wings and sharing what I enjoy!
I’m happily married to the love of my life and working on being the best mom possible to our great children.
I love all kinds of stories but there is a special place in my heart for all forms of romance. The good, the bad and yes, even the ugly. When I write, I get to make sure there is always a happily ever after and that is the best part of all!
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