I frowned, remembering. “Yeah, what did you think it was?”
He pulled me tighter to his chest. “I was looking down upon the creature who I knew to be my mate, trying to determine how best to support a lifestyle with a mate who self-lubricated so enthusiastically.” He leaned down and placed another kiss on my forehead.
“Ew, gross!” I smacked his chest. “You thought that was from me?”
“Yes, and I was delighted to discover that while the external slime was not of your making, that your internal self-lubrication is decidedly delicious." He leaned down and licked the seam of my lips. When I gasped, he slipped his tongue into my mouth and gently stroked his ridges against my own. His thumb traced up my thigh and slowly pressed between my legs.
“That . . . still sounds really . . . gross,” I said between gasps as he worked his finger higher.
His thumb met my wet center, and he growled. “My delightful self-lubricating mate.”
Someone shouted in the hallway, and then suddenly the door slid open and a massive alien stormed in. And this one was even more alien than Kex’s people. He was slightly taller than Kex, gray, and very furry. His ears sat on top of his head like a cat’s,and his face, while somewhat human-shaped, came to a slight point like a muzzle. Before I got a better look, I was behind Kex, and my alien man was standing between me and the giant tabby man.
“Kex, you asshole,” the intruding alien roared. A group of gray-clad aliens, the same race as Kex, poked their heads in after him, but didn’t enter. “These fuckers said you disappeared into the woods and wouldn’t tell me where. I’ve been waiting three weeks for you to get back. Three fucking weeks.”
Kex’s posture relaxed, and he waved away the gray-clad aliens. “Drinking my fine alcohol and trashing my guest room, no doubt.”
“Well, obviously, but that’s beside the point,” the tabby said, his voice aggressive and rumbly, with a hint of theatrics. “I sent you messages, and you never responded, you traitor. After everything! I saved your life over a dozen times and this is what I get from you.”
Kex stepped forward and placed a hand on the new man’s shoulder. “I’m sorry I was out of touch. There is no tech allowed in Monai. What do you need?”
The stranger made a dismissive gesture. “It’s not important.” His voice, while still deep and a bit booming, was now calm and dismissive. “What’s that?” He gestured toward me as I craned my head around Kex to watch the interaction.
“That is my mate,” Kex said, and moved back to my side. He sat next to me and gestured for the tabby to sit. “Emily, this is Rainair, one of my dearest friends.”
Rainair gave a sweeping bow. “My lady, it is a pleasure, though may I offer my deepest regrets for the travesty of a man you got stuck with here.”
I grinned. “I don’t know. I think he’s pretty freaking awesome.”
Rainair frowned and dropped into the chair on the other side of the table. “What language is that?”
Kex tapped his tablet again. “Earth English.”
Rainair pulled out his own device and tapped for a moment. Then he winced and cursed. “Okay, my lady, try that again.”
“I said I think he’s pretty freaking awesome.”
Rainair grinned and leaned back in his chair. “Fucking hell, Kex. You go into that fucking forest of yours and come out with a mate. Think I should give it a try?”
Kex snorted. “What part of no tech allowed in the forest did you not understand? You can’t survive a day without a vac-sealed dinner.”
Rainair rolled his eyes. “And how did you end up there, my lady?”
“Oh, you know, the usual. Abducted by aliens while out getting coffee, then said aliens stuck me and a bunch of other women into an escape pod and dumped us into the forest,” I said.
Rainair glanced at Kex, then back at me. “Abducted. Do you mean you were taken from your planet against your will?”
Kex’s hand wrapped around my stomach, and he pulled me tighter against him. I leaned into him. “Yep, none of us even knew there was life outside our planet before the goopy guys snatched us up.”
Rainair glanced at Kex again. “Lmmp,” Kex said, and Rainair grimaced.
“Your planet was pre-spaceflight?” the cat-man asked.
“Well, we’ve done a little space flight, reached our moon and all that.”
Rainair sighed. “Yes, but that still makes you a protected race.” He looked back at Kex, something heavy in his expression. “There are more of them?”
“Yes, twelve more still in the deep forest,” Kex said. “And that’s not all. Their language was recognized in the database.”
