Chapter 40

I paced in front of the couch, and Seth followed my movements with his gaze. Talvax had ordered me to come to Command because she was speaking to the president of Vx-93 about the nefi fever. The ship was finally free of contagion, and we were departing. I didn’t want to leave Seth. Though he’d been steadily recovering, he continued to sleep more than usual and his appetite was non-existent.

“I will be fine,” he said for the thousandth time.

“You will stay here, right?”

He released a long gust of air. “Yes. Now go.”

“Are you sure?” I asked, crouching in front of him.

Seth roughly kissed me. I groaned, nipping at his bottom lip. The simple touch stirred my desire. It made me want to skip the meeting for an entirely different reason. He shifted away, and I followed him, trying to extend the kiss.

Seth chuckled. “You need to go.”

I trailed my lips over his cheek and down his neck, making him squirm. “I should stay with you.”

“Go. Urgg and Wyn are going to be here soon.”

“They won’t tire you out?”

“No, I finally feel well enough to see them.”

Guilt plucked at my soul. I hadn’t meant to keep Seth from his friends, but I worried about him relapsing. I rubbed my thumb over his knuckles. “I’m not trying to be overprotective.”

“I know, but I need my friends too.” His grip tightened, and a tremor went down his arm.

“What?”

Seth swallowed.

“You’re safe.”

“I’ve been in a relationship where he isolated me from my friends. I don’t want that again.”

“I’m not trying to do that.” When Seth didn’t say anything more, I said, “Thank you for telling me.”

“Thank you for listening.” Seth placed a gentle kiss on his lips. I moaned into his mouth. I wanted him so badly, it had become a constant ache that never faded. Too soon, he shifted back. “You’re late.”

“I don’t care,” I muttered, trying to recapture his mouth.

The door beeped.

Seth’s arms loosened around me, even as I protested. He said, “Go.”

When I opened the door, Urgg and Wyn stood in the corridor, waiting. I glanced back at Seth. “I’ll be back.”

“I will be here.”

My gaze shifted to Urgg and Wyn. “Seth needs to stay here. Don’t tire him out. Be careful with him. If he needs anything, summon me.”

“Kal,” Seth snapped, but I ignored him.

Wyn offered me his throat, but Urgg released a bleating snicker and said, “He’ll be fine.”

With one last look, I headed toward the lift.

Urgg and Wyn rushed into the room. Urgg moved to smack my back but froze in mid-air. “I’m so glad you’re alright.”

“Me too,” Wyn said, sitting beside me while Urgg settled on the floor.

“I brought you bread,” they said, holding a bag.

“Thanks.”

“How are you feeling?” Wyn asked.

“My joints hurt, but Dr. Qinlin thinks that will improve with exercise. I nap a lot. But, overall, I’m doing fine.”

“I’m glad,” he said.

“What’s going on with you two?”

“Not much,” Urgg said, picking their teeth. “I didn’t get sick, and Talvax had already been vaccinated. With the ship on lockdown, there wasn’t much to do. I set up targets in our quarters and drove Talvax crazy.”

“I had my duties, once I recovered,” Wyn commented. “But something unfortunate happened while I was sick.” He turned away, tail swishing in obvious agitation. Lucy watched the movements, butt wiggling. I caught her before she could attack him.

Holding her like a baby, I rubbed her belly. “What happened?”

He buried his face in his hands, tail strangling his ankle. “Commander Monqilcolnen was checking on everyone in the cargo bay, and when he stopped by me, I vomited on him.”

“No,” I said, mouth falling open. “What did he say?”

Wyn released a strangled sound. “He said, ‘Seriously, Ensign Puke?’”

“He knows your nickname. That can’t be good.”

“Nope,” Urgg said, guffawing. “I can’t believe you puked on him again.”

With another squeaking noise, Wyn merely shook his head.

I shrugged. “It could be worse.”

“How?” Wyn asked.

“You could work on Command instead of in the tunnels and have to see him every day.”

“It’s still awful.”

There was no denying that.

Urgg leaned back on their elbows and crossed their legs. “It’s not so bad. I’ve puked on Talvax, multiple times. It’s a sign of a strong relationship.”

“Except,” Wyn said, “you and Captain Talvax are mated.”

“Oh, but I’ve puked on many of my friends. On my planet, we drink until the sun rises and longer. Puking is a natural side effect,” they said with a wave of their hand.

I blinked as visions of being at a party where people kept puking on each other and brushing it off as a camaraderie moment flooded my brain. I shuddered. That was not my type of party, though I hated parties unless the person had pets who I could hang out with.

“How festive,” I said carefully.

They sighed with a wide grin. “It’s a beautiful thing. Sandy ground with jagged mountains. Long days with scorching heat. Raiding parties to hunt. Campfires. Caves. So much drinking and fighting. Breaking bones and spilling blood binds people. It’s a glorious place.”

Wyn and I glanced at each other. His expression matched mine. That did not sound pleasant, but who was I to ruin Urgg’s reminiscing? “Wonderful.”

“You two will have to come and visit when me and Talvax go next.”

Wyn looked uncomfortable at the prospect and didn’t respond. I merely said, “I’ll have to see if Kal wants to go.”

They gaped. “You’ve decided to stay?”

“What?” I asked, voice turning high-pitched. I had decided to stay, but I hadn’t told Kal yet, and he was the first person who should know.

“You didn’t say if you stay, you’d visit. Are you staying?” they asked, getting to their knees. Wyn shifted in my direction, eyebrows raised.

“I’m staying.” Both of them cheered, and a grin grew on my lips. It was nice to have friends who cared about me. “But I haven’t told Kal yet so don’t say anything to anyone.”

“Why haven’t you told him?” Wyn asked, tail touching my wrist.

“I’m waiting for the right moment.”

Urgg grunted. “I don’t think he’ll care about perfect timing. Tell him so he can stop worrying about it.”

“I agree with Urgg,” Wyn said.

I bit my lip. He probably was, but I didn’t know if I was ready to tell him, and Kal was exhausted from caring for me. “I’ll try, but don’t say anything yet.”

“Fine,” Urgg said, and Wyn reluctantly agreed. “Eat your bread. You look like you’re about to fall over.”

I took a bite, fighting off a groan of pleasure. The freshly made stuff was so much better than what the food dispenser created. “Thanks.”

“What are friends for?”

Friends, such a nice thing.

The meeting had gone longer than planned, as the planet needed more assistance than this one ship could provide. The president of Vx-93 had asked for Drakcon aid. In the end, I’d agreed to ask my father, which was another conversation I didn’t want to have.

Finally, I was able to go back to Seth. I stopped on the way to buy the food he’d liked so much when we went on our first outing. Seth wasn’t eating much, and I hoped this would entice him.

Seth wasn’t in the shared space, so I set the food on the table and headed toward his room where he was hopefully napping. His door opened, and my soul stopped. He wasn’t in his room. I darted into his bathroom, and it was empty as well.

“Seth,” I whispered. “NAID.”

“Prince.”

“Where is Seth?”

“His touchstone is showing him in your quarters.”

“He’s not here. Scan the ship.”

NAID lifted her eyebrows but complied with my order. After a moment, she said, “He’s in your quarters.”

“Where?” I gestured to the empty rooms.

“Your room, Prince.” NAID gave me a wink before vanishing.

Seth had never been in my bedroom, except when he’d yelled at my father. I pushed the panel and the door opened. He was asleep on his side with Lucy next to him. Seth was hugging my pillow to his chest, and his eyes fluttered rapidly behind his lids while breathy snores escaped his lips.

The sight of him in my room did something to me that I couldn’t put into words. I felt lighter, warmer. I joined him under the blankets. Seth muttered but didn’t wake up, and I gathered him into my arms.

“Choose me,” I begged.

Tightening my arms, I snuggled as close as possible, desperate to feel the coolness of his skin and the solidity of him in my embrace.

I looked at the unfamiliar room, stilling, then remembered. Kal hadn’t come home, so I’d taken a nap in his room. It was comfortable with books shoved on the overcrowded shelf and artwork on the walls. It felt like him.

Someone kissed the back of my neck, and I grinned. “You’re home.”

He traced kisses down my neck. “You’re in my bed.”

“Is that bad?”

“I like it.”

Kal kept kissing my neck. I sighed, angling my head to give him more room. When one of his hands slid under my shirt, I groaned. His fingers roved over me, lighting fires beneath my skin.

He nibbled on the shell of my ear. “My Seth.”

I swallowed; blood flooded my dick, making it come to life. I rolled over in his embrace. I kissed the line of his jaw, relishing the feel of his scales. Pushing him onto his back, I shifted on top of him, and Kal’s hands settled on my waist. His hips gently rocked against mine, bringing my dick to full mast.

I kissed his mouth open, and his ridged tongue swiped against mine. Kal’s movements became unsteady as he ground against me.

“Seth,” he breathed.

I slipped my fingers under his shirt and started tugging on the hem. Kal leaned up so I could get it off. His muscles tightened under my touch as I traced his scales, so smooth with almost indecipherable ridges.

I tweaked one of his nipples, and he jerked. I rolled the smooth nub between my fingertips. My lips trailed down the column of his neck and down his chest. I drew his nipple into my mouth and swirled the tip of my tongue around it before biting it. Kal’s breath sharpened, and his fingers dug into my back, hard enough for me to feel but not enough for his claws to prick my skin.

“I need you,” he groaned. “Badly.”

“Alright,” I said, going back to sucking on his nipple.

He pulled my chin up. “Are you sure?”’

“Yes.”

“I love you.”

Unable to stop it, I replied, “I love you too.”

“What?”

My mouth went bone dry. I had not intended to say that. Swallowing, I buried my sudden wave of fear. “I love you, Kalvoxrencol.”

Expression tightening, he kissed me, his movements frantic. “Thank you,” he whispered against my lips, over and over again. I wanted to reply, but he wouldn’t let me go. Soon I was completely distracted.

Kal ripped off my shirt, exploring my body. His fingers traced the line of my back, then he squeezed my ass, making me groan.

“My Mate,” Kal murmured.

Desperate, I yanked at the front of his trousers, popping a button off in my haste. “I need you naked. Now,” I demanded. He helped shimmy his pants and briefs off.

My lips trailed down his chest, placing whisper-soft kisses and tentative licks. Kal bit out short huffs, his hand on my head, gently pushing me. I chuckled. I knew what he wanted, but at the same time, I liked torturing him. I’d never known that about myself. Interesting.

I pressed a kiss on his hip bone, tongue laving over the delicate scales, and I edged closer to his throbbing dick. His breaths turned sharper and harder as he writhed beneath me.

When I placed a kiss ridiculously close, his dick brushing my cheek, he begged, “Please, Seth.”

I licked the tip of his dick, and Kal arched up with a strangled sound. Wrapping my hands around his thick shaft, I swirled my tongue around the head and lapped up the pearl-colored beads of liquid. They were sweeter than I’d expected. As I dragged the tip of my tongue over his slit, Kal cried out. Loosening my jaw, I tried to take as much of him as possible in my mouth and pumped the rest.

I moaned at the feel of him. His scales rubbed along my tongue and cheeks as I bobbed up and down. I couldn’t contain the noises escaping my throat. It was possible I was enjoying this more than he was.

Kal fisted a hand in my hair, and his tail rubbed the backs of my legs all the way to my ass, sending tingles up my spine. The tuft tickled my hole, and I swore around his dick, making Kal growl. I cupped his heavy balls, tugging on them. A strangled groan came out of his lips, spurring me on. I slipped my fingers lower and traced the rim of his tight hole. Kal whimpered, gripping my hair. I increased the pressure of my mouth on his dick, my cheeks hollowing, and kept circling my finger over his opening.

He dragged my mouth off him.

“What?” I asked, breath harsh with need. I wanted to taste him.

He panted. “I don’t want to finish yet. I want to be inside you or have you inside of me.”

Reluctantly, I slid up his body to kiss him. He gripped my hips to rub our dicks together. My breath halted before a swear ripped out of my lips at the slippery friction. I rocked against him, and he clamped onto my ass.

“Kal,” I moaned against his lips. “I need you inside me.”

Kal rolled me over, keeping control of my mouth as our tongues clashed. He frantically yanked at the nightstand drawer and removed something. “Tell me if I hurt you or do something you don’t like.”

“I will.”

He rolled something similar to a condom over his fingers, and my forehead creased.

“To protect you from my claws.”

He’d worked fast, though I had been recovering for a while.

He kissed me, our tongues swiping against each other. His coated finger circled my rim and shots of electricity bolted up my spine. I spread my legs wider for him. One of his fingers pressed against the pucker of my ass, and I bore down, allowing him inside. A strangled groan tore out of my lips. It had been a while since I’d had anything, even my own fingers, in my ass.

Kal stilled.

“Don’t stop,” I ordered. I would get used to the sting soon enough. Besides, I was desperate for him.

Kal kissed the tip of my dick before taking it into his mouth. His black tongue swirled around the head, scales scraping at the sensitive skin. I jerked, trying to stop myself from thrusting into his mouth. His finger continued to work in and out of my channel, but the wet heat of his mouth completely distracted me from the quickly fading sting. His tongue licked my slit, lapping up the beads of pre-cum. He groaned, and the vibrations went up my dick.

“Ngh,” I cried.

He swallowed all of me, the tip of my dick hitting the back of his throat. His finger pounded in and out of my ass, making me whimper. A second finger joined the first. It was uncomfortable for all of one second, then he brushed my prostate. I clamped down on my swelling desire.

“There,” I demanded stupidly. His fingers returned to the same spot, and my hips bucked. “Fuck, Kal.”

He groaned around my dick. I could feel my orgasm barrelling down my spine. My ass clenched and my balls hugged the base of my shaft.

“Kal,” I cried. “Stop sucking me or I’m going to come.” It had been too long and my stamina wasn’t the best anymore. Not to mention, Kal’s mouth was the best thing I’d ever felt.

He pressed a final kiss to my glistening tip but stopped sucking me, though his fingers kept moving. My hips ground against his digits, riding him. Kal slipped a third finger in, and I moaned at the stretch. Kal smiled, watching my every cry, moan, and utterance of his name. I brushed his jaw, unable to keep from touching him. When my thumb touched the corner of his mouth, Kal sucked it in and bit it.

He moved, hovering over me. Our lips molded together for a few moments before he invaded my mouth with his tongue.

“I want you inside me,” I gasped against his lips.

“Are you sure I won’t hurt you?”

“Yes,” I bit out.

His fingers slipped out of me, and I moaned at the loss. Kal opened the lube again, slicking a generous amount on his dick. He rubbed the tip against my rim, and my hips arched.

The tapered head pressed against my hole, and my jaw clenched as I bore down. My muscles resisted the wide head of his dick for several moments before the tip slipped in. I wrapped my arms around his neck and hooked my legs over his waist to force him closer as I breathed through the stinging burn.

“Seth,” he whispered before he pushed in deeper.

He was so hot inside of me. Kal thrusted in, then pulled back and pushed back inside, sliding deeper with each movement. Every thrust scraped his scales against my walls and made panting cries escape my lips. I held onto his shoulders for dear life. Kal grunted and shoved into me, his hips slamming against me.

“Seth,” he groaned. “You’re perfect.”

I was so full. Stretched. I loved it. Kal stilled, shaking, to allow me to adjust to his girth. I breathed through the sting, pumping my dick that had softened, grunting at the pleasure. Kal’s face was pinched above me as he held perfectly motionless. I wanted to chuckle at the fierce concentration; instead, I nudged his ass with my feet, urging him to move.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

I leaned up, kissing him. “Love me.”

His wings unfurled and his tail wrapped around my ankle, his long hair a silky curtain around us. Kal began to move in long, smooth thrusts. I rocked my hips in time with him. When he brushed my prostate, I lurched.

“Shit,” I cried, yanking him closer, my fingers raking his back. I could feel the pressure building as sweat dripped down my face and my balls drew up tight. His movements became faster and harder until he was slamming into me. The sound of his scales slapping against my skin filled the room.

“Seth,” he moaned above me. Kal buried his face against me, rutting into me. He bit my neck, and I jerked.

“Kal, I’m going to…” A cry came out of my throat when he hit my prostate. I was going to finish embarrassingly fast, but it was too good. He was too good.

His movements sped up even more. Kal grunted. My fingers dug into his back, and I tried to hold on.

“Come with me, Husband.”

Pleasure ripped through me as I spurted on my stomach. White noise filled my ears and I cried out. Kal pumped two more times before he ground out my name between his teeth, and his dick jerked inside of me, hot liquid filling me.

Kal collapsed on top of me, breathing hard. I panted, shaking. He was still inside of me, slowly softening. He carefully pulled out, drawing a hiss from my lips, but he remained sprawled on top of me.

I dragged my fingers over his back and through his long hair. Pressing soft kisses everywhere I could reach, I said, “I love you.”

His arms tightened around me. “I love you too.”

I opened my mouth to say something, but Kal captured my lips. When my dick twitched, I wondered if we could have a second round.