I love the way she says my name. I think about it even as she turns and heads up the stairs, saying goodnight to me. How I would love to make her say it in other ways.
But the time will come for that.
Chapter Nine
Khesan
Fiona has been downstairs a long time, and it makes my skin crawl. I’ve been sitting on my bed waiting for her to return to her room so I could wish her goodnight. I loved watching her enjoy my meal tonight, despite the fact she spent the afternoon with Shathar. I was almost able to banish it from my mind until now, when she went down the stairs with him and still hasn’t returned.
I’ll have to grow accustomed to this anxiety. They will do many things while I’m not around, and I need to get used to that fact without letting it drive me to madness. Though it is very hard to imagine your fated mate spending time alone with a rival. It goes against my very nature.
When I hear the stairs creak, I hop to my feet. Fiona comes down the hallway, and I lean out the doorway to greet her.
“Oh, Khesan!” Her face is red and her hair looks tousled. “Thank you again for dinner tonight.”
“It was my absolute pleasure.” I step out into the hall, closer to her. I can pick up Shathar’s scent on her, but endeavor not to react to the fury that suddenly courses through me. “I look forward to our date tomorrow,” I say instead.
Fiona grins, showing off her cute blunt teeth. “It’ll be good to spend some time together. I’ll cook breakfast, then work for a while, and then we can go. Capisce?”
I cock my head. “Capisce?”
“It means we’re in agreement,” she says with a giggle.
“Then, capisce.”
Fiona hovers until a yawn sets in. She waves a hand in front of her face.
“Sorry, I’m exhausted,” she says with a sad smile. “Time to crash.”
A wave of anxiety washes over me. “Please do not hurt yourself.”
Fiona laughs again, and I love the sound of it. “Just on my bed. I’ll be okay.”
I nod and let her go, closing my bedroom door behind me. It is unfortunate to be here alone, knowing my mate rests only one room down the hallway, but I can be patient. If the military taught me anything, it is that one must work hard and wait to be rewarded.
I will show Fiona that I am the best choice for her, that we are destined to be together.
When I get undressed, I palm my cock, which is thinking rather lewd things. It’s strange to see the new shape of it since I smelled Fiona for the first time. Now it has nalopo, a ribbed texture along it that it didn’t have before I came here.
I hope when the time comes, the nalopo will make her feel quite good.
I am tempted to touch myself while thinking of her, but I shouldn’t, not when she is so close by. Hopefully, soon, I can find relief in a different way and show Fiona how I’ll always treasure her.
In the morning, I am ready to face the world. To learn all about Earth and Fiona, and discover a new activity with her this evening—away from Shathar. Once I get some time alone with her, it will be easy to show her how we are intended to grow old together.
The gods don’t make mistakes when assigning fated mates.
When I come down the stairs, the lights are on and Fiona stands in front of the stovetop. I thought I would be the earliest to wake, but she beat me to it.
“Good morning.” She sips a dark liquid from a cup. “Sorry if I’m not chipper yet. Coffee hasn’t kicked in.”
“Coffee?” I sniff the air. It is an enticing scent. “What is that?”
“Oh, it’s good stuff.” Fiona grabs another cup with a handle from a cupboard and heads to a pot, pouring some dark liquid into the cup. She passes it to me. “Tastes bad at first, but it grows on you. Then you can’t live without it.”
Sounds like an addictive substance. But I should try it anyway, for her. The scent of it is fascinating as I raise it to my lips.
“Wait,” she says, stopping me. “I should put some creamer in there first.” She heads to the fridge, grabs a bottle, and pours something white into the coffee to make it more of a light brown. “Now it won’t be so strong or so hot.”
