Slowly, they came down from their highs, their chests heaving in tandem until Gemini worked up the energy to speak.
“It smells like…” she murmured lazily, cuddling up in Apodis’ arms as he held her aloft on his cock.
“Like us,” he finished. “Alona blossom and omorlalla trees.Andthe scent of orb glows.”
Orb glows… that wasexactlywhat it was, the same fresh aroma from the blooming filling the shower stall. The fact that his bite had done that made her heart swell with joy, a perfect divine bow on the gift of their joining.
Apodis nuzzled against the crook of her neck as she slumped into his arms, the gentle touch soothing her until she was almost asleep. When his knot finally deflated, he carried her to the bedroom, settling her into the bed like she had never left.
Like she was exactly where she was supposed to be.
CHAPTER 20
APODIS
There was a human in Apodis’bed, and not just any human. An omega.
His mate.
The sensation of the mating bond was strange—like a string had been tied around his heart and connected directly to Gemini’s—especially after he had assumed he would never get to experience it. How fast things had changed, and yet he felt none of his normal anxiety over the swiftness of his decisions.
He knew in his heart that Gemini was his, and no amount of time would change that fact.
His mate stirred beside him, nuzzling her cheek against his neck and igniting the bond between them. Their combined scents filled the room, something he didn’t think he’d ever grow tired of, the fresh andsweet aromas melding like they were one with the mistforest.
Though it had been a week since he’d given her his mating bite, the mark hadn’t faded one bit, and it filled him with pride to know she was his.
“For once in my life, I really just don’t give a shit about what anyone thinks,” Gemini said, evidently awake now.
He chuckled, amused by the seemingly random statement, though he could understand where she was coming from.
When they had dropped the samples off at her camp, she’d told the project leader, Castor, that she was applying for a temporary leave of absence, followed by a remote position at NovaFlora. She’d explained everything while Apodis watched, and he didn’t miss the strange looks her colleagues exchanged with each other as she mentioned her omega transformation.
Castor had looked dumbfounded by the avalanche of information, but Gemini didn’t seem to care. Apodis had helped her gather her things and pack them into the cruiser, before she said her final goodbyes to her former crew.
“Is that so?” Apodis asked, brushing his fingers through her hair as she gave him a big grin.
“Did you see the way they looked at me? Atus? Halley was about to have a conniption. But none ofthat matters.Thisis where I belong. Right here. Withyou.”
Apodis swallowed hard, trying to stifle the tears welling in his eyes. Never did he think he’d be so lucky to have a mate, and certainly not one as intelligent and kind and beautiful as Gemini.
There had been a nagging worry all week, a voice in his head telling him it was only a matter of time before she realized her mistake. Before she told him she wanted to go back to Earth.
But as her leave was approved by NovaFlora, and the process for transferring to remote work started, he accepted she was here to stay, though the verbal reassurance soothed him greatly.
“I am so glad you feel that way. I… I don’t know what I would have done if you had left,” he said, cherishing the way she trembled under his ministrations, his tentacles tracing along her form.
“You know what’s weird?” Gemini asked, continuing when he nodded. “I think I knew I wasn’t going back to Earth. Deep down. As soon as I met you, I knew I wanted to be here with you. I just couldn’t let myself admit it.”
Apodis’ breath caught in his throat as he gazed down at her, her beautiful red hair splayed across his shoulder like rivulets of light.
“Some Oslieths believe in fate bonds, two or more souls that have an inexplicable pull on eachother and are meant to be mated. As if the stars themselves decreed it.”
Gemini bit her lip, though he saw a glimmer of mirth sparkling in her mossy eyes.
“Doyoubelieve in fate bonds?” she asked, and he couldn’t help but smile, petting his fingers along her cheek.
“I didn’t, but I do now. I thought I was meant to be alone, but destiny had a different fate for me. One I am so very grateful for, because I couldn’t imagine a life without you here with me.”
