“Nice try, buddy,” she whispered, even as her eyes flickered to his lips, a softened expression slipping over her features.“I’m a little sore,” she confessed.
Devix purred, but told himself to stop.His female was content in their sleeping platform, warm and safe in their furs.The mating call of his Instinct still ran high within him, but he needed to remember that his fated mate was human, not Luxirian.She was more fragile.The last thing he wished was to hurt her, so he would ignore the intense need to mate her until she was fully healed.
Cara had been dead to the universe as Devix had carried her back to their dwelling in the silvery darkness of night.He’d mated her thoroughly and perhaps more roughly and intensely than he’d originally intended.But hisluxivahad seemed to enjoy his attentions and his darkest needs, rolling her hips for more even when Devix feared he’d pushed her too far.
Upon returning, he’d cradled her close to his chest in the bathing tube, purring his contentment, as he washed away the soil and mating fluids from their bodies.She’d stirred in his arms and smiled up at him, brushing her fingers over his lips, before falling back asleep.But that look on her face, unguarded and pure, made him realize the power she wielded over him.She could ask anything of him and he’d do it, without question.
Their bond was an absolute.Nothing would be able to break it.
Devix had then cleaned her between her legs, watching his cum wash away, and something had sparked in him.He imagined things he’d long since forgotten…a desire for a family unit of his own, a desire to see his fated mate large with their offspring, a deep need to protect and provide.
Devix had pushed those thoughts away, however.As quickly as they entered his mind.He knew of no Luxirians that had mated other species and produced offspring.He did not think young would be possibly between them, despite the rumors that humans were biologically compatible with other species.Hisluxivawould be enough for him, a gift more valuable than anything he’d imagined.
If she chose to stay.
After washing, he’d tucked them both into their sleeping platform and held her close, wrapping his limbs around her.
Her slow, even breaths had lulled him to the deepest sleep of his entire life span.
And when he woke, she was watching him, tracing his lips and the column of his throat, that same look she’d given him in the bathing tube spread across her features.
“I have a salve that will ease your soreness, female,” Devix murmured, hesitant to leave her, but slowly pushed himself off the platform.Before he could change his mind, he went to the Coms quarters and retrieved a healing salve.
When he returned, Cara was watching him, tracing the lines of his nude body before her gaze caught on his erect cock, bobbing against his abdomen.
The scent of her arousal hit him like a wall and his Instinct growled low, preparing to mate once more.But Devix shook his head, clearing the fog.
“Now that I think about it,”Cara said softly, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen younothard.”
“I am always aroused around you,luxiva,” he confessed.
Devix knelt on the sleeping platform, gently pulling open her legs.Then he froze.
“Cara,” he hissed, when he saw the bruises, aghast.Black and blue, spread across her inner thighs.“Female, I…I have hurt you.”
Cara frowned, looking between her legs.When she saw the bruises, understanding dawned, but she stroked a hand down his chest, trying tocomforthim whenhewas the one that had harmedher.His female.His mate.
“Devix,” she murmured, looking at him, no doubt seeing the pained expression on his features.“They’re just bruises.”
“Nix,” he bit out, pulling at his horn, shame creeping over him.“I did not realize…vrax!”
Cara pushed up from her reclining position and cradled his face in her palms.How could she stand to touch him when he’d marked her in such a way?
“Dev,” she whispered, smiling.“It’s okay.Don’t get upset about this.It’s not a big deal.”
“Nix, female.This is…” he trailed off, not knowing how to explain this to her.
“Listen to me,” she ordered, giving him a little shake so his eyes refocused on her.“I lovedeverysinglesecondof last night, okay?Because, baby, you are seriously anamazinglover.I loved your intensity,” she purred to him, pressing a small kiss to the corner of his mouth.“And you fucked me so many times that I lost count.But these bruises mean nothing.They’re normal.You’re a big guy and I bruise easily.They’re bound to happen in the beginning, as my body gets used to yours, okay?You didn’t hurt me.”
Devix blew out a breath and dropped his forehead to hers, staring into her eyes.“I feared I was too rough with you.”
“You weren’t,” she assured him.“I like it a little rough,” she confessed, giving him a little smile he felt in his gut.“And I could’ve taken more, so don’t worry about that.If you’re ever too rough, I’ll tell you.”
Devix relaxed at that.“Vow to me, you will.I never wish to hurt you, female.Ever.”
“I promise,” she whispered, dropping a kiss on his lips, before her eyes slid down to the silver tube in his hand.“Now, what’s that?”
Devix gently opened the tube.Then he remembered his claws and brought them up to his mouth to bite off the tips so he wouldn’t scratch her.Cara’s lips were parted and she watched him smear the blue salve over the fingertips where he’d dulled his claws.
