by S. A. Ravel
Leaning on her elbows, Audrey pushed herself up to look at Haj. His gold eye gazed adoringly between her thighs as if she were his most treasured prize.
"You have me now," she whispered. "What do you plan to do with me?”
He seemed to consider the question for a moment. Then, as if in answer, he leaned forward, his nose and mouth disappearing into her fleshy mound. His tongue slid over her clit in one long, reverent swipe.
Audrey cried out, then sank her teeth into her lip, remembering Haj's super-hearing.
Her mate leaned back, looking at her like a man possessed. "Let them hear you! Let there be no question.”
Her cheeks burned at the suggestion. Haj's face disappeared between her thighs again. His lips clamped around her and sucked. Audrey couldn't stop the moans from dripping from her lips. She couldn't keep them quiet. And why should she? Haj'erel's desperate tongue felt too good.
A flush crept over Audrey's skin, starting at the edge of Haj's lips then creeping over her pelvis. The orgasm took her tired body by surprise. She threaded her fingers through Haj'erel's hair. Her feet moved to the mattress. Her hips danced up against his tongue with abandon. Haj's hands gripped her hips, pulling her closer to him as he drank from her.
Little by little, Audrey's vision cleared and the last echoes of orgasm faded. Haj leaned over her, his erect cock straining the air.
“Haj…I want you.” She wrapped her legs around him, coaxing him closer.
A soft groan escaped his lips, desire in his voice. “By the goddess, I want you more, but you must rest and eat.”
When her vision cleared, Haj still lay between her thighs. He gazed up at her with the hungry look of a starved predator.
Who’s at the apex now?
She swallowed. “Remind me to explain later why that was an unfortunate choice of words.”
There were so many things they had to learn about one another. The ins and outs of their languages. Personal habits. Quirky family traditions like the tendency to bring a megalomaniac home on Christmas Eve. But there was time for all of that.
“I love you.” The words rushed from Audrey’s mouth in a whisper. She couldn’t hold them back anymore.
Haj’erel beamed down at her, contentment on his face for the first time since she’d met him. “I love you too, my mate. If you will let me go for a moment, I will return with your meal.”
Audrey wrinkled her nose. “I put that pot on right after you left. It has to have burned by now.”
“The first pot was. I made a new one.”
Gorgeous, protective, and domestic. Jackpot!
“…Later.” She’d gone a day without eating. What was a few minutes more?
Haj’erel shook his head, pulling out of her arms. “Food first. We have all night.”
And every night after. Audrey couldn’t take her eyes off Haj’erel, couldn’t stop her hands from running over him. Christmas miracles were fragile things in Audrey’s new world. She wanted to be sure this one wouldn’t disappear.
Epilogue
Audrey
A rush of cold wind blew against Audrey’s face, stinging her cheeks. The black jumpsuit Dash had given Audrey kept her body warm, but it didn’t protect the bits it didn’t cover.
She leaned closer to Haj’erel. His body burned hotter than hers. He had enough warmth for both of them. He’d flown lower on the return trip, both to keep her warm and to avoid being followed again.
They spent almost a week on Tarandus after that first evening. Hidren Thule never gave Haj or Audrey a warmer welcome. In the beginning, it annoyed her. She couldn’t understand how they could watch Ujiwan hurt their family and not try to help.
She still didn’t. The hell with them. If they couldn’t accept her mate, then they’d just make a home somewhere else. That went double for everyone on Earth.
Haj’erel landed in front of Aunt Ruth’s sagging house. Audrey slid off his back, stepping toward the house. She stopped a few feet shy to take it all in. From the outside, it looked exactly the way they left it before Christmas: plywood roof patches, boarded-up windows, and all.
“You missed this place.” There was no question in Haj’erel’s voice. With each day, he learned Audrey a little better.
“A little,” she said. When Haj scowled at Audrey, she shrugged. “It’s just a house. It was the people I loved, and they aren’t here anymore.”
When she got homesick, Haj’erel saw it and showered her with affection to get her through. When too many of those days stacked one after the other, he suggested they return to Earth. But he couldn’t give Audrey back Phoebe or Aunt Ruth. Chir could do many things, but it couldn’t raise the dead or teleport someone across the universe without a portal.
She didn’t doubt her decision. For every second of her time on Tarandus, even in the middle of the night when she lay naked in Haj’erel’s arms, Audrey missed her family. But the house she didn’t think about once. It was time to move on.
The portal at the Thule base worked now. If it ever stopped, there were others scattered around the country. They could go back to Tarandus whenever they wanted. Though, Audrey couldn’t imagine why they would, unless it was to see Das’hel.
Using the spare key buried in the bushes, Audrey unlocked the front door. Everything inside the house looked the same and yet totally different. Nothing was out of place, although it was a little dusty from a week without use.
Haj’erel came up behind Audrey and wrapped his arms around her. “It feels strange to be here again as mates.”
A small smile came to Audrey’s lips. Yes, that was it. She turned around, rising on her tiptoes to brush her lips against his. “I was thinking the same thing.”
“If you wish to change your mind about moving to the colony, we can revisit the discussion.”
“Without the depot, we’d just end up leaving in a panic when we need medicine.” Audrey took a deep breath. “At least this way, we do it on our terms.”
“Our terms,” Haj said wistfully. “I like the sound of that.”
A wicked grin came to Audrey’s lips. “I bet not half as much as you’ll like my bed.” She slipped her hand into the front of her mate’s jumpsuit, cupping her hand over his already growing length.
“Tempting as that sounds, I know you will never forgive me if I don’t remind you of the day.”
“The day?” She pursed her lips. “December…31st!”
“Your sister is still in this system.”
Audrey untangled herself from his arms and sprinted to the solar generator, flicking it on the second her fingers were in reach. A gentle hum moved through the house. She ran back to the sat phone just in time to see it the battery meter blink to life.
“Is there enough?” Haj’s brow wrinkled.
“For five minutes.” Audrey pecked him on the cheek as she ran to the bedroom. She came back wearing a sweater. The elaborate red and green knit pattern seemed festive, unless you looked close enough to see the green parts were a zombie horde.
Haj’erel peered at the sweater and laughed. “I will prepare the den for the night.”
“Oh no you don’t!” Audrey grabbed him by the elbow and shoved a lumpy brown mass into his hands. “Put this on and smile.”
She dialed Phoebe’s number. When her baby sister’s face appeared on the screen, Audrey released a breath.
“Merry Christmas! Sorry I’m late.”
Phoebe stared at Audrey in disbelief, blinked, then burst into tears.
“Where were you? I thought you were…never mind what I thought. Is everything okay?”
“My battery is gonna die, Pheebs. I don’t have much time.” Despite her dire warning, Audrey smiled. And this time, she meant it. “Everything is fine. I’m starting the move to Jericho tomorrow.”
The call wasn’t long enough for Audrey to explain everything. And if she did, Phoebe might worry. She didn’t want her baby sister’s last thought of her to be worry.
Phoebe pressed a hand to her forehead. When s
he moved it, she looked more at ease than Audrey had seen her in years.
“Things will go so much smoother there, Audrey. You’ll see.”
Audrey nodded. She had her mate by her side, how could they not? And if they didn’t, then they would try another place. And another. As many times as it took.
Haj cleared his throat, to draw Audrey’s attention. He gestured to the hole-filled sweater she’d given him, looking down at himself with a furrowed brow. “Is this…correct?”
On Audrey, the dress hung loose around her hips, making the anthropomorphized reindeer knit with tassel lashes on the front take up her whole torso. The reindeer fit neatly into the center of Haj’s chest.
“It’s perfect!” She grabbed his hand and tugged him into the frame. “Pheebs, I want you to meet someone. This is Haj’erel. He’s coming with me to Jericho.”
Phoebe’s eyes widened, barely concealing her building panic. But Haj’erel flashed her a thousand-watt smile and Phoebe’s body relaxed. Her mouth curled into a smile. “Nice to meet you. Are you a friend of my sister’s?”
Audrey grinned. “I don’t have the battery life to play coy, Pheebs. Yeah, we’re together. For the long haul, so you can stop worrying about me, okay?”
“I only worry because I love you!” Phoebe frowned. “So if you were hoping I’d stop, you’re in for disappointment.”
Audrey nodded. Even a star system away, Phoebe couldn’t help but be herself.
“I love you too, Phoebe. And when you worry, remember that I’m happy, okay? Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!”
If you enjoyed this book, please let me know by leaving a review.
Also by S.A. Ravel
Alpha Unmasked
With Emma Alysin
Warrior Awakening: Archans of Ailaut Book 1
Warrior Enflamed: Archans of Ailaut Book 2
With Danae Ashe
Dragon Blood: The Lost Dragon Princes Book 4
About the Author
S.A. Ravel is an avid reader, knitter, gamer, nature lover, and all around nerd-of-all-trades. She honed her passion for storytelling as a teen. A wanderer at heart, Miss Ravel eventually traded the misty shores and towering redwoods of Humboldt Country for the concrete jungles of Los Angeles. She writes sweet and steamy tales about out of this world heroes and the unforgettable heroines who love them.
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