After what could have been a few minutes or an hour—I’d lost all track of time—he pulled his cock free, separating us.
I missed him immediately. Felt empty. Abandoned. Vulnerable.
What was wrong with me? I wasn’t some weak, simpering drama queen. I’d had sex before. Not a lot, but I wasn’t a clueless virgin. It was just sex. Hot, incredible sex.
My stupid body refused to listen. Tears gathered. Slipped free to streak my cheeks. My throat burned. My chest felt tight. I trembled, unable to control myself.
Tazo studied me like I was the most confusing thing he’d ever seen as he reached up and released my mating cuffs from the hooks on the wall. He pulled me into his arms. My bare breasts melted against his hard chest and I found myself wishing he’d torn the blue nightie completely, the stretch of fabric around my waist as much a barrier between us as his stupid shirt.
Enough.That. Was. Enough. I’d completely lost my mind, upset because Iwasn’tnaked? Upset that he’d given me what I wanted without taking off his clothes? Even though I’d just had multiple orgasms with the sexiest man—alien—I’d ever seen?
Why was I crying? This made no sense. None. Not big, heaving sobs, either. The tears were silent, as if my soul was using my body to shed its tears. I wasn’t sure where the pain came from or how to stop it. It was as if Tazo had unlocked a secret door inside me and I couldn’t close it again.
God, he was going to think I was an idiot. An immature, overly emotional dolt. Maybe, if I could just get away from him, take a few minutes alone to pull myself back together, I could stop the waterworks. “You can put me down now.”
“No.”
Jeez. Not this again. I sniffled and tried to sound dignified even though I knew I was a total mess. “I think I need to a little alone time.”
“No.” He turned, carrying me toward what was clearly a bathroom. Why was he taking me there? Did he think I needed to pee? Because I didn’t. Doctor Surnen had given me some nanotechnology speech as he’d poked, prodded and injected me with all kinds of things while I’d been waiting for Kai to wake up. He told me as long as I was in Coalition space, close enough to their transport technology, my body’s waste would be automatically eliminated from my system. I even had one of their special NPU, neural processing units, imbedded in the bone behind my ear that acted as a universal translator. Had to give in on that one because, at first, I couldn’t understand a word any of the males on this planet had been saying to me. Even after I had the NPU, none of these males seemed to listen to a word I said.
They didn’t take me home.
They didn’t let me warn my sister.
And now, Tazo carried me around like breakable glass even though I’d asked, more than once, to be put down.
The NPU must not be working properly. I tapped at the annoying thing behind my ear. Winced at the sharp pain. Guess that wasn’t all the way healed yet.
As he walked, Tazo transformed from beast to man. He was still huge, still carried me like I weighed next to nothing. But maybe the man part of him would actually listen.
“You don’t need to carry me. I can walk.”
He dipped his head, buried his nose in my hair and inhaled deeply. “I do not hold you because you need to be held. The beast held you because he could not tolerate being separated from you. He needed the contact to maintain control.”
“Oh.” Whoa. “And now? We had sex. We are wearing mating cuffs. Is the beast still going to lose control? Does he still have mating fever?”
Tazo lifted his face and smiled down into mine. “No. I hold you now because I want to.”
Oh.“Why?” I was beginning to feel foolish, being carried around like a toy.
“Because you are a miracle I waited years to discover. Because I am afraid if I let you go, you will vanish like a dream and I would not survive the loss.”
“You’ve known me for an hour? Maybe two? I know your beast recognizes your mate, but now that your mating fever is gone, wouldn’t you be okay? Even if I went home?” Back to Earth. “I need to go home. I have to make sure my sister is all right.”
“No.” He carried me to a large tub and settled on the edge, filling it with fragrant, steaming water. “Warlord Kai will find and protect his mate. He will bring her here, to The Colony. Where it is safe.”
“She won’t leave Earth.” I knew my sister. She was braver than I. More of a risk taker. Independent. Rebellious. If Warlord Kai thought she would go quietly, he was in for a shock. Especially if she thought he was forcing her to leave me behind, in danger. But if he used one of those sneaky transport buttons, she wouldn’t have any more of a choice than I did. Andthatwould piss her off. Good luck to Kai if that happened. He was playing with fire.
“Her mate must protect her. He will bring her here, despite any protests.” Tazo took off his clothes as he talked, the black tunic and pants dropped to the floor. I shouldn’t stare, but damn. Holy shit. He was at least as big as Warlord Kai. My gaze darted south. At least as big, ineveryway. How the hell had that fit inside me?
And what were all the strange silver circuits and streaks under his skin? His left arm was almost completely covered from shoulder to wrist with a slight break around the elbow. The left side of his chest, his hunky, want-to-take-a-bite of him, bulky, muscular chest, looked oddly metallic as well, transparent skin over an array of silver circuitry. Was that what the Hive did to the fighters they captured? To everyone living on theworldsthey conquered? Did the Hive do that to everyone? Even children?
Did I want that to happen to my sister? Hell no. Better she deal with Warlord Kai than the Hive who were hunting her.
“He’s going to kidnap her? Like he did me.”
“If that is what is necessary. A mate’s safety comes above all other considerations.” The tub was full, and large enough to hold at least two, perhaps three, people. Tazo set me on his thigh and lifted the remains of my nightie off, over my head. Said much about my state of mind, and exhaustion, that I didn’t think twice about accepting his care.
