Chapter 42

Seth had told me he loved me, but he hadn’t agreed to stay. While we fucked often and talked constantly, I couldn’t help but worry that, in the end, he would choose to return to his planet.

How could I take him back? I would, but the return trip would be pure torture. Seth owned my soul, and I didn’t want to live without him. I couldn’t live without him.

My father pinged me daily, but I’d ignored him, refusing all communication with my family. I’d even foisted the matter of Vx-93 to Talvax and simply sent my father a note explaining the situation. I didn’t want to hear questions about Seth that I didn’t have any answers to.

Arms wrapped around my waist, startling me. “Babe, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

His hold tightened, but Seth didn’t say anything.

Lying was never my first instinct. In this case, though, I didn”t want to pressure Seth. He was allowed to make whatever choice he wanted, though I desperately needed him to pick me.

“Can I show you something?” Seth asked.

“Certainly.”

The promenade wasn’t busy, but people pressed around us, which made Seth stay close to my side. My tail hooked around his ankle, and I draped my arm over his shoulders, holding him securely to me.

When we stepped into the garden, the humid air clung to my scales. The floral scents tickled my nose, and quiet whispers floated to my sensitive ears. Seth ignored all of it and led me onward.

Seth stepped up to a ladder hidden behind a layer of plants, his breath faster than usual. Since he’d been sick, it didn’t take much physical activity to exhaust him.

I grabbed his hand to stop him from climbing up. “What are you doing?”

“Trust me.”

He started up the ladder, and I followed, muscles tensing in preparation to catch him if he fell. Seth fumbled with a latch before clambering inside. He settled next to the window in the cramped space and held his arms out. I accepted the invitation, settling in between his legs. He held me tight, and my soul pounded in need, but it wasn’t a physical connection I craved. I needed Seth himself. He was the center of my universe. Without him, I would be adrift.

I curled my tail around his leg in an attempt to keep him close, like he would stay here if I never let him go.

His chin rested on my shoulder, his breath rushing over my neck. “This is my hiding spot.”

“Here?” I asked, seeing the cramped space with new eyes.

“Yeah.”

“How did you find it?”

“I saw the door open one time.”

I ran my fingers over his arm. “You’re sharing it with me.”

“Now you know where I go,” Seth said. “I figured you would tear the ship apart if I hid for any length of time now.”

Chuckling, I couldn’t deny it.

We sat in silence, which normally didn’t bother me, but this time, my fears wouldn’t stop circling my thoughts. I wanted him to come home with me. Of course, Father was threatening to annul the bond; he didn’t think I was responsible enough.

I rubbed Seth’s arm, dragging my claws lightly over his skin. He groaned, which made me grin. He kissed the back of my neck, and my stomach swooped, cock twitching. It took literally nothing for my body to react to Seth’s presence. I craved him, and I doubted that would ever change.

“We should play our experience again,” I said, trying to distract myself. “We keep dying.”

We were in a particularly hard session. We’d tried to clear out the muk infestation from the main caves multiple times and had died on each attempt. My fears quieted as we talked about our siege plan.

“No,” Seth said, “it never works when we try to sneak in.”

“Then what should we do?” I asked, voice getting louder.

“Set incendiary devices. Blow them. When they”re distracted, we sneak in.”

“I doubt that will work.”

“It’s better than dying again.”

“Fine,” I said, sagging against him. “Next time we play, we’ll try it.”

A long gust of air rushed out of his lips, stirring the hair at the nape of my neck and sending shivers down my spine, which settled between my legs. My cock flared to life, demanding attention. I shifted, ignoring it.

“How long will it take us to beat the entire game?” Seth asked.

“It’s about a sixty-session experience,” I replied. We probably wouldn’t beat it before leaving the Admiral Ven. Would he want to play if he went home? Would I want to?

“Hmm,” he said, holding me tighter. “Can you play on your planet?”

“I have a suite in my house. We can upload our progress.”

“Nice,” Seth said. “I would hate to leave it unfinished.”

“I don’t want to play without you.”

“Why would you play without me?”

I answered in a whisper, “If you go home.”

Seth tensed behind me. “Kal,” he started, but I wouldn’t let him finish.

“I know you haven’t decided yet, which is fine. I’m not pressuring you. I’m simply saying I don’t want to play without you.”

He started to tug on me. “Look at me,” Seth demanded. “Please.” Conceding, I kneeled between his legs. Seth cupped my cheeks and held me firmly. “I love you.”

“I know.”

“I’m not leaving you.”

“What?” Hope flared painfully in my chest, igniting my inner fire and lighting up my scales. Was it possible? “You haven’t said anything.”

His forehead pressed against mine. “I wanted to make a fuss. I wanted to give an elaborate proposal or something. Maybe buy you another piece of jewelry. I was thinking about commissioning a ring. That’s what we humans do on Earth, or at least in the US.”

“What?” I asked again, voice breaking.

“I thought you would know when I told you I loved you, but then Urgg said you needed the words.”

I tried to hug him, but the angle made it difficult. Seth shifted to his knees to draw me into his embrace. I crushed him to my chest. “You’re staying with me.”

“I am,” he replied. “I’m staying with you forever.”