Page 25

Chapter Thirteen

Freya

The warm water from my morning shower poured down my body. I cupped some in my hand and splashed it on my face and in my hair.

I loved the showers here. The water smelled of nature. I could stay in here for hours, but too bad the showers were timed. I would’ve opted for a hot bath, but then that would actually require that Zark bring in a large basin and a huge quantity of water to be heated to fill it. The Zunatorians didn’t like waste. I admired them and their culture and their respect for their planet. I had a lot to learn.

Zark had returned last night as promised, but I was already in bed. He sat in the large chair and watched me. I pretended to be asleep so I could watch him fall sleep. He was peaceful in his slumber and never made a sound.

He left before I woke this morning, but a fruit and muffin breakfast was waiting for me when I woke up in the center of the table. He must’ve been a very effective, stealthy assassin. He had the ability to move around doing the most common tasks without detection. This was a one and a half room podhouse with spaces separated by partitions. I should’ve heard something. Utensils knocking together or something. Was it just me? Maybe I was a hard sleeper. Just like he said, maybe I even snored.

I recalled the advice that Meriuam gave me when I told her the other day that I believed Zark thought I would be a nuisance to him and his assigned duties. But she said, “Some warriors are shy when it comes to women. Most don’t know anything about romance. From the time they learned how to hold a sword, all they’ve been taught to do is how to fight. Maybe Hvit’zark is shy. He seems very patient, so give him time.”

There was something to be said about his patience and not wanting to rush this mating business. I’d heard that some of the human woman had gotten pregnant as soon as the first week with their mates, but now I understood why. Zunatorian warriors were irresistible. And as for Zark, he didn’t seem to have trouble in the romance department at all. He’d known exactly what to say to put my mind at ease. And I trusted that he was speaking the truth and from the heart.

I craved more of his touch. Even now, I couldn’t keep my hands off the places he’d touched last night at supper. We hadn’t even gone all the way and my core was still throbbing just thinking about the orgasm he gave me. I ached with need for him, but he was right; any mating between us would create a lasting bond. I knew it. On the other hand, it was probably too late. I already felt a strong connection to Zark. He understood me better than all the others. All the nurses, my teachers, everyone I’d met on Zunator so far…they wanted my memories, they wanted to know about my past. But Zark…it seemed that all that didn’t matter to him.

Just as the stream of water began to subside, letting me know that my time was up, I heard the door to the podhouse open. I grabbed the towel hanging over the door and wrapped it around my body.

“Zark? Is that you?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

I came around the partition with damp here to find him with a cloth wrapped around his forearm. Blood stained through the cloth.

“What happened?” I crossed the distance to get to him.

“I’m fine. It’s already healing. I was dragging something down from the shed and a panel fell on me.”

“Oh no,” I exclaimed, taking a peek at the flesh-deep wound. “The water’s still warm from the shower. Let’s get this cleaned so you don’t catch an infection.”

He said nothing as I pulled him straight into the bathroom and toward the sink. We sat down on the bath bench and I unwrapped the cloth from his forearm. After examining it thoroughly, I realized that the wound had healed instantly as if by magic.

“What the…?” I mouthed.

“See? I told you. Heals quickly.”

I shook my head. “They said Zunatorians can self heal rapidly, but I had no idea…that is some sci-fi level stuff right there.”

He chuckled. “It’s our DNA. We’re not entirely invincible though.”

“Then be careful when you go out to work again. You scared me.”

“Would you like to come with me this time?”

I nodded.

Zark gently stroked my hair back from my face. “But first…” His fingers glided down my neck and across my shoulder. He leaned in to kiss me on my shoulder. My skin was still damp from the shower. His mouth felt exquisite on me. His breath tickled my skin and goose bumps rose up on my flesh. I was wet the instant his tongue made contact with my body.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about you. The way you look. The way you taste. The way you moaned when you came.”

I panted, breathless and pliant from his touches. “I feel the same. I know you said you wouldn’t breed me, but I want you, Zark.”

We shifted together on the bench until our bodies touched and kissed.

“What pleases you also pleases me,” he whispered, and then trailed his kisses downward until they landed on my neck.

I lifted my chin and gave myself to him as he tongue my throat. My towel fell away from my body at some point, but I didn’t care. Zark kissed his way down my center, grabbed my hips, and pulled me near the edge of the bath bench. He propped one foot on the sink next to his and lowered himself to the floor. He mumbled something in his native tongue and then lashed my clit with his generous tongue. He ate like a ravenous beast, sucking on my clit and thrusting his tongue in and out of my center, drawing from the juices that collected there.