"Gladly." He held her against him and allowed their breathing to sync. His fingers brushed through her silky blond hair. He leaned over and brushed his lips across her head, wanting to tell her that he loved her again, but it seemed too much. It was pressure she didn’t need.
If only he could remain with her like this until the end. He'd never been afforded such comfort, such peace. The moment was broken by the soft sound of her crying, the sobs gaining volume as he pulled her in tighter.
"Oh, baby, no." He cradled her against him and kissed at the bend in her neck. "Don't cry. I’m so good right here. Right here with you."
"There's not enough time. Just making myself familiar with your anatomy will take a week. How am I supposed to solve this in a couple days when your people haven't come up with a cure in years? How can I crack this code and save you, X?"
"You're not going to be able to, Sylvie." He kept his voice gentle, but needed her to know the truth.
"I can't give up," she whimpered. "I can't let you go without trying until there is nothing left to try."
"You have to let me go. There’s nothing else to try. Whether you figure this out or not, the odds are stacked against us. I’m making peace with it. Join me?" He hated to utter such a harsh truth, but it simply was the way things were.
"There is one thing we can try." She glanced up at him, captivating him. Her eyes were intensely green, reminding him of the moonlit waters of his favorite bay, where the giant jellies congregated. Those beautiful creatures had never failed to both calm and fascinate him.
If I survive this. I'll take you there. Make love to you under the moon, among the waves. Treat you like the goddess you deserve to be, my little Earthling.
“No, we’re out of options, and that’s okay.” He kissed the tip of her nose as tears rolled down her pretty face. Knowing that she cared was enough.
"We can mate. Make love to me again and let’s see if we’re compatible. If nothing else, we’ll at least have another night in one another’s arms."
He'd half expected her to suggest it, but hearing the words sent a bolt of desire straight to his aching cock and exploded in his heart like a nuclear missile.
"The likelihood of it working is very slim. I'm not sure if it's worth the effort." He regretted the words as soon as he said them, but found himself unable to pull them back.
She jerked from him, her face a mask of anger. "Not worth the effort? Your life isn't worth having to fuck me again, is that what you're saying?"
"Of course not.” He reached for her as she pulled from him. She was going to be difficult simply as a way of protecting herself. Anger was easier than devastation any day. "That wasn't what I meant and you know it. You know how I feel about you. I've never gone dark over a woman before you. I've never even wanted to. I wish I could spend the rest of my short life making you happy, giving you pleasure that sent you into dizziness."
He moved a little and pulled her back down, before turning her in his arms and pressing her to the cushion below him. X rolled his hips, his cock slipping from his sarong and rubbing against her thighs. “See what you do to me? I can’t seem to think when you’re around.
She blushed and looked away as her breathing increased. He drew her face back to him, waiting to speak until her eyes met his again. "I can see that our being together is having an effect on you as well. If we become intimate again, it might be worse for you when I eventually... when I..."
"When you die," she whispered and pulled him down, kissing him softly.
He broke the kiss as pain wrapped around his heart and squeezed tightly. "It might not be worth the effortfor you."
She stroked his tendrils back over his forehead. "I think the possibility of curing you would be worth the risk. I’m going to feel absolutely devastated when you die, but that’s a problem I’ll deal with way in the future when it happens. It’s not happening now, X. I can’t let it."
He gave her a small smile.She wanted to try.
He needed to make sure she understood all the ramifications of their lovemaking, should he relent and sink down into her. "If we do make love, and it works, my seed will release deep inside of you, Sylvie. If that happens, it means there’s a chance of a viable pregnancy."
She blinked slowly, her eyes scanning his face. While she might say she would miss him, would she really want to raise a child with him? To be his forever and never leave?
She hadn’t kept the fact that she wanted to return to Earth a secret. She’d been damn persistent about it. If they mated and a child resulted, he would not allow that. The child had to remain with him, which means she did as well.
"I understand," she said slowly. "I agree that it’s a possibility. It’s a risk I’m willing to take. You’re strong, capable, smart, witty, and beyond beautiful to me. I couldn’t ask for more, X.” She brought his hand up to her mouth and kissed at his fingers as he groaned.
"What are you saying?" he asked, not daring to hope.
"I'm saying that I would be proud to have you as my child's father. That I’m willing to mate with you and remain by your side, should it work." She sucked a finger into her mouth and X closed his eyes as tears burned his gaze for the first time in his life. He waited a moment to collect himself and leaned down, cupping her pretty face and capturing her lips in a soft, gentle kiss.
He broke the kiss as Sylvie turned away from him and yawned. "I'm sorry. I'm so tired."
"Me too, baby. Let me hold you and we’ll make love tonight if you still want to.”
“I do and I will. Always.” She pressed her cheek to his chest and began to breathe deeply.
He watched her for a moment more before closing his eyes and letting the darkness take him. Everything would be all right. They would figure it out together. Him and his Earthling mate.
