“Back home, it’s a ritual we have to bind couples—usually, it’s couples—together for life. They exchange vows, rings, their families and friends join them for a big celebration, the bride tends to wear a white dress, there are flowers, a cake…”
“Sounds complicated.” Now it’s Krav’s turn to yawn. I peek at him while he does so, admiring his pointed canines and long, long tongue.
“It can be complicated, if you make it so. But the point is that the people who are in love are then considered joined together for life. Forever.” Should I bother explaining divorce? He doesn’t know about Phillip yet—or much about my life in Houston at all. He never asks about my past.
“Then yes, I would say it is similar. And much simpler. Your wound will heal, although your shoulder will bear the mark forever.”
“You freakingscarredme?” I move to sit up, hot outrage washing over me, but then the fucker begins to purr, and his rumble joins the hum in my own chest. It’s like being shot up with a million ccs of valium. My body grows heavy. Calm. At ease. “Don’t pull that sneaky little trick on me now, Krav, we need to talk about this!”
The hand not on my belly finds my hair and strokes the top of my head, melting me the way it always does. “Hush, sweet thing.” His words are like crashing waves I can’t battle. “What’s done is done. You’re mine—my pet, my Omega, my gift. Surely you’ve realized by now that I can do whatever I like with you. What’s more, you enjoy it. Whether you admit it, or squeak in feigned outrage.”
Do I? His words suffuse me with warmth, a non-sexual heat which envelops my chest. Or maybe it’s just my first hot flash. Is forty-one too young to start having those? Christ, I hope so. I sure miss being able to look stuff like that up. Hell, I miss my phone, period.
“The urge to claim you that way has been getting stronger every day,” Krav admits. He’s still purring, jumbling my thoughts, wrapping me in an enthralling cocoon of safety. Contentment. Affection.
“Has it?” My eyelids are drooping even as my heart skips with hope. Does this mean my feelings for him are mutual? Maybe it’s because he’s purring at the same time, but his speech is slurred. Drowsy. Like he’s had a bit too much wine and is oversharing. Is this the alien equivalent ofin vino, veritas—confessing your true feelings because you’re drunk?
“Of course. I’m extremely possessive, even my mother said so. And now that I’ve claimed you, you’re safe from other Alphas. No one else can have you. Everyone will know you belong to me.”
He presses a kiss to my shoulder, and I would shiver if I could summon the energy to move.
“It was the message I got from Khan requesting a meeting that made me decide,” he goes on. “If we’re soul-bonded, you won’t want to leave…”
He trails off into a light snore while I stare at the ceiling with wide, stunned eyes, feeling like I just got doused with ice-water. “Message from Khan?” I squeak, trying desperately to place the name. I’m sure he’s mentioned it before. “Who’s Khan? Krav! What meeting? Master! Oh, hell no!”
How the heck is he still purring while he’s asleep? Summoning all my energy, fighting the paralyzing sense of relaxation, I roll over to face him, shoving at his shoulder.
“Wake up!” Jesus, he weighs a freaking ton. The wall of muscle that makes up his torso doesn’t shift the slightest bit beneath my hands. “You can’t fall asleep now! Wake up, goddammit! I havequestions!” My voice is ringing in my ears, joining the cacophony of rumbling purr and soft, rhythmic snores. It matches the hum deep in my chest, inside my heart.
The sheet barely covers his groin. A well-placed tweak would almost certainly wake him up, but then he’d either be horny, or pissed. And I don’t want either of those outcomes right now. I want answers.
“Okay,” I say through clenched teeth. “I get it. You’re tired.” I roll back over until I’m once again staring at the ceiling, willing myself to take deep breaths. “I’ll let you get some shuteye. But you can’t sleep forever. And when you wake up… you’d better be giving me some answers, big boy.”
For a long time, I lie awake, running an entire gamut of emotions as his casually dropped statements replay through my mind. His dark rasp echoes in my ears…Bond that can never be broken… destined to be mates… part of me… together forever… more than my pet…
Maybe I was wrong about him. He is a demon, after all—and an alien one at that—I can’t expect him to behave like a regular human guy. And it’s not like I’ve met any other Ulfarri Alphas or kings to compare. Maybe they all act that way. Maybe treating their partners more like pampered fuck buddies than equals is typical Ulfarri behavior.
I sigh, tracing my collar with a fingertip. Gift givingisone of the five love languages. Back home, there are people who love their pets more than they love their spouse. He does try so hard to please me, give me everything I want… and from what I understand, now he’s done the Ulfarri equivalent of making me his wife.
That certainly isn’t fuckboi behavior.
It’s love.
A smile spreads over my face. Sure, he’s a demon, we’re on a different planet with no coffee or internet, and so far, I seem to spend most of my time here either in a sexual frenzy, or confused as heck. But I sure as hell didn’t have any luck with guys on Earth—and none of them ever came close to being as good in bed as Krav. Not to mention, he can do magic and has a pet griffin. And when he looks at me a certain way and strokes my cheek, I freakingworshiphim.
Lulled by his gentle purrs, soothed by his protective hand on my belly, I close my eyes at last and let the darkness wash over me.
If we’re soul-bonded, you won’t want to leave…
If that ain’t a declaration of feelings, I don’t know what is.
Ten
Krav
I openmy eyes to see Renee peering down at me. Her hair tumbles over her bare shoulders, the morning sunlight bringing out the hidden glints of gold in the red tresses. Each strand shimmers like a fire-stone—both golden and crimson tones undulating like a flame. A fitting color for a demon’s pet.
“Bout time you woke up,” she says. The air is redolent with her tantalizing, muskytallioxscent.
