“Okay.” Ash held up a hand to stop him. “That was all he needed to hear.”
“Your mother informed me that there would be a wedding.” He looked slightly aggrieved at that. “We do not have such things here.”
Ash chuckled. “You do now. My mom felt cheated out of a wedding the first time and I’m the only daughter, so she won’t be denied this time.”
He raised one eyebrow. “You did not have a celebration with your deceased mate?”
“Nope,” she replied, deciding now was not the time to educate him on “mate,” versus “husband.” “We eloped. She never forgave us.”
Zade sighed and ran a finger down her cheek. “This should be interesting.”
“So, you really do love me?”
“Yes,” he replied. “The question is, do you feel the same for me?”
She looked away, focusing on nothing but the churn of her own thoughts. “I am not familiar with this mating process of yours. It’s very different from the way we humans do it, and I admit, it’s unnerving. But I can’t deny how I feel. And we’ve all seen how things have gone with the other human women who have Baylan partners.” She pulled in a breath and let it out slowly. “I have trusted you so far—with my leg and my life. I have no reason to doubt that this bond is the real thing, that these feelings I have are actual love.” She pulled him down into her embrace, into her heart. “I do love you, Zade. It feels crazy and overwhelming and there’s no one else I’d like to spend time with. Let’s see how this thing works.”
He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her. This kiss was different from any other that they’d shared. It was hard, insistent, possessive, but brimming with tenderness. He braced his forearms on either side of her head and kissed her, taking everything, including her breath.
“One other thing,” she gasped out, ripping her lips from his. “Are we going to get actual quarters? Because this work-life space thing is not ideal. And I’m going to need a closet. I have alotof shoes.”
He laughed, stroking her hair and tipping his forehead against hers. “It is already taken care of.”
“It is?”
He nodded. “The Saar-king has been urging me to accept my rightful chambers on the command wing, but I saw no reason to, until now. We have a full suite which you may customize as you please. I’ll show you…” His lips were on hers again, teasing, tasting. “After.”
Her body writhed beneath his. His hips ground against hers, sending friction sparks between her legs, igniting her clit and wetting her pussy.
He ripped away the loose gown she was dressed in and growled in approval. His gaze roamed over her exposed flesh. Hunger and need shone in his electric blue eyes. With eager fingers, she pulled at the seams of his suit. He helped and shrugged out of the garments. They were skin on skin, heat to heat. Ash bucked her hips. She wanted his thickness between her legs, sliding inside her, stretching her and filling her. Her juices were cool against her thighs. Her pussy tingled with anticipation.
“I want you, Zade.” She lightly scraped her nails down his chest, then grasped his cock with both hands. “You’re more than ready.”
Without a word, he reared back, positioned himself at her entrance and plunged inside her.
Ash gasped, back arching, skin exploding with sensation. He rocked his hips, sliding deep inside her, then halfway out, before thrusting hard again. Her body adapted to his girth and length as if it had been made for him alone. Shecould see the slight sheen of sweat on his shoulders, hear his ragged breathing. His eyes blazed his need as they took on a luminescence in the darkened room. The soul markings covering his body undulated, like light through the depth of water, as her fingers touched them. He was beautiful. He was hers.
She met his thrusts, taking each powerful stroke and giving it back. The pleasure rose in her. A great pressure built, delicious and hot. Her breaths turned to gasps. Her heart pounded rapid and frantic. She moaned his name as the dam burst and her body went taut with the waves of orgasm. Every nerve ending flooded with bright, delicious pleasure that only Zade could bring her.Only Zade.
His breathing was ragged as he pounded into her harder, running a desperate pace as he crashed toward his own release. Her pussy tightened on his cock as it swelled. He thrust one last time, reaching her depths, touching the core of her. He released his seed inside her on a bellow of ecstasy. Of triumph.
Ash felt complete, so utterly fulfilled. She draped her limp arms around him as he lowered himself over her. He shifted his weight to the side and tugged her so she sprawled half over his chest. His heart pounded low in his abdomen, where Baylan hearts grew.
She wondered, if they made a baby together one day, would its heart grow there, as well? The idea made her smile against her mate’s broadly muscled chest. The glow of his soul markings was warm beneath her cheek. He idly played with her hair.
“That was…amazing.” It was hard to find the right word. Even that one didn’t do it justice.
“Hmm,” murmured her mate. “You will do, female.Thiswill do.”
Yes, she thought. It would.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Ash
“I told your father to bring his blue suit.” Ash’s mother threw up her arms. “What does he pack? The gray suit. I swear, I could kill him sometimes.”
Ash smiled behind her hand. “I think the gray suit looks great.”
