Rixavox did that purring growl again, but before Cecelia could even think about what to do about this odd situation—torn between leaning closer or scooting farther away—a voice interrupted them.
“You’re awake!” the woman said, standing just inside the doorway.Cecelia didn’t know what shocked her more…that there was a human woman that she didn’t recognize coming into the room or that this human woman was heavilypregnant.
“Where is Vaxa’an?” Rixavox asked sharply, standing from his kneeling position and moving away from the bed.
“Down the hall.One of the elders caught him,” the woman replied, approaching the bed before plopping herself down, groaning softly.She saw Cecelia eyeing her in shock and she gave her a soft smile.“Some days, I don’t even want to get out of bed to carry around this giant,” she murmured, patting her stomach.
“What is going on?” Cecelia whispered, shaking her head.“I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone.Seriously.”
“It’s a lot to take in, I know,” the woman said, reaching out to pat her hand.“But I’ll stay here for as long as you like and answer any questions you have.I know these guys,” she pointed a finger at Rixavox, scowling near the doorway, “aren’t exactly the picture perfect example of communication.”
Cecelia couldn’t help but immediately like the woman, even though she truly had no idea what was going on.There was something genuine and comforting about her.Her eyes were soft and bright and she seemedhappy.Completely and utterly happy.
“My name is Kate,” the woman said.“And this is Rixavox, in case he didn’t introduce himself.”
“Sessela knows my name already,” Rixavox said from the doorway.Cecelia’s gaze flickered over to him and found he was watching her with his arms crossed over his chest, bunching his biceps.
“Oh, Sessela does, does she?” Kate repeated in a teasing tone, raising an eyebrow at Rixavox over her shoulder.She turned back to Cecelia and in a conspiratorial loud whisper, so that the Luxirian could hear, said, “Watch out for this one.He’s a total ladies’ man.I’ve seen him in action way too many times.”
“Oh,” she murmured, dropping her gaze.For some reason, that disappointed her.Hell, judging by the serious chemistry they had going on before Kate walked in, Cecelia couldn’t be too sure that she wouldn’t have been added to his seemingly long list of conquests.It made her feel…less special.
How crazy and insecure wasthat?
But she’d never had any luck with men.She’d always been on the quieter, shy side.Her cancer certainly hadn’t helped in her early twenties.And there she was…getting all hot and bothered by an alien player with a silver tongue.
Terrific.
She cleared her throat, her spine straightening, even though her body ached a little from her long visit to the labs.“My name is Cecelia.”
“Ah,” Kate said, shaking her head with an amused smile.“Yes, well, Sessela sounded quite exotic.I was wondering if he’d gotten it right.They pronounce my name like Kat instead of Kate.”
“Sorry to disappoint,” she replied with a small quirk of her lips.She tried not to look at Rixavox, still hovering in the doorway.She didn’t want to give him any ideas because she certainly wasn’t interested in being another notch on his bedpost, even if she was crazily attracted to him.Besides, she had other more pressing problems.Thosewere the things that should be occupying her thoughts.
Kate patted her hand again and said, “I heard you had a little fall in the hallway.Would you like to rest more before we talk?”
This was her chance to finally get some answers.There was no way in hell she’d miss out, even if she was tired.Cecelia shook her head and said, “No, I’d like to talk.”She couldn’t help her gaze straying to Rixavox this time, wondering if he would be standing there the entire time.His nipples piercings glinted in the light, catching her attention, and she swallowed hard.
Get yourself together, woman,she chided herself.
Kate noticed her gaze and looked over her shoulder.“Thank you, Rixavox.I can take it from here.I’m sure you must be tired after your time away.”
“I will stay,” Rixavox grunted.
“It’s unnecessary,” Kate said, insisting.“Vaxa is just down the hall.Get some rest.That’s an order, Ambassador.”
Rixavox was clearly torn.He didn’t move an inch for a moment, as still as a blue-toned marble statue, his eyes never straying from Cecelia.His attention made her squirm a little.She was unused to such focus.
Finally, however, he jerked his head before bowing his head slightly and said, “Tev,lavrix’an.”
When he met Cecelia’s gaze again, there was something in his eyes that made her skin prickle with awareness.She suppressed a pleasurable shiver and quickly glanced down at the furs covering the bed.She didn’t look up again until she was sure he had left and she counted his heavy footsteps down the hallway until she couldn’t heard them anymore.
“They are all a little intense, aren’t they?” Kate murmured, smiling lightly.“That’s exactly how Vaxa is.It was intimidating at first, but they are all just really big softies inside.”
Cecelia almost snorted.There was nothingsoftabout that Luxirian.Instead of commenting on Rixavox, Cecelia questioned, “Vaxa?”
“Yes,” Kate said, touching her hand to her stomach.Cecelia started, almost forgetting that the woman in front of her was pregnant.She looked like she was five or six months along.“Vaxa’an, they call him.He’s the Prime Leader.And my mate.”
“Your…mate?”
