26. Aizor

Chapter 26

There wasn't anything I wouldn't do to sink my cock deep within Vanessa. But I was waiting for her to give me a sign that this was what she wanted more than anything. It would be wrong to just . . . do it until she told me it was what she needed.

With only two days left, I didn't know what else I could do to convince her she belonged by my side. I'd talked with her, teased out her smiles, taken walks with her, and even helped her feed Franklin.

I hadn't given up. Soon, I'd show her my surprise. That might make all the difference.

I kept dreaming . . .

She'd tell me she wanted everything. I'd spoken with Muzzire and he'd reluctantly agreed she could prepare one meal per week. Once I told her, she'd say she'd be quite happy working with the god beneath our dining area. She'dexpereemunt with herressapees. No, those weren't the right words, but I couldn't remember exactly what they were.

If she felt complete here, she'd never want to leave.

After I'd made sure she came three times, we left our home, heading toward the dining area.

Franklin slunk along the edge of the woods, watching her.

"See?" She pointed to him. "He likes me."

"He likes what you feed him."

"He's letting me touch him all the time, now," she breathed. "You saw that yourself. One of these days, he'll climb onto my lap."

"And bite you."

"Nah, not Franklin. This isn't all about food. He craves affection as much as anyone else."

As much as me?

"I'm going to keep working with him." She glanced up at me, frowning. "No one will mind, will they?"

"Why would they?"

"You don't have pets here."

"We have our hepadons."

"I'm not sure it's the same thing, though it's similar. You use your hepadons for riding. You don't snuggle with them."

"I stroke Voolon's snout."

She laughed. "And she loves it when you do it."

"As do you."

Her laughter grew louder. "You're right. I do."

I swallowed hard, trying not to get too hopeful, but she loved something I did for her? I'd stroke her snout all day long if she'd gift me with one of her smiles.

I tilted my head, waving for her to enter the dining area ahead of me. "How can this be different? I still can't imagine why you want to touch a chall."

"He's cute. Fluffy in a crystal way."

"So is Voolon."

"It's different." She shook her head as we walked through the open room to what she called the kitchen. "You don't bring Voolon into your home."

"She's huge. Why would I do that?"

"Franklin's little. Can't you picture him sleeping in the furs with us? Snuggling when it gets cold?"

"No."

"You're looking at me like I'm out of my mind." Her laugh burst out again. "You might enjoy having him in bed with us."

"Would he watch when I suck on your clit?"

"Oh," she gasped. "I don't think so. I hope not! But don't think I didn't see you extending your finger to him yesterday. He sniffed it."

"His whiskers tickle. I like that."

"You wanted to touch him. Admit it."

I shrugged. "Perhaps a little. He's intriguing. Useless, but intriguing."

"Just because you can't ride or eat him, it doesn't mean he's useless. Small pets can provide great comfort. You stroke them, they purr, and you feel happier."

"If he makes you happy, I guess he could come inside our home. But he is not allowed on our furs."

Her smile only grew. "You'll see."

I wasn't sure about that.

We entered the kitchen and walked up to the counter. Since it was early in the day, no one had made stew—something Vanessa could do if cooking pleased her. Muzzire didn't seem interested in preparing morning or midday meals.

When we stopped at the counter, two plates emerged before we could make our request.

"Food's up," Vanessa quipped as she had each time a plate appeared. "I still can't get over this. It's . . . magical."

Special enough to make her want to stay? The closer it got to the deadline, the more worried I became. What would I do if she told me she was leaving?

I . . . loved her. A big mistake on my part, but I couldn't help it. No, I wouldn't stress. I had a few days left. Surely that was enough time to convince her she belonged here with me.

Vanessa poked the stack of flat, circular things on her plate.

"I don't believe I've ever seen anything like this before." Skeptical, I stared at my plate but didn't touch the food. "What's the brown liquid pooling around the flat circles?"

She dipped her finger into it and popped it into her mouth. When her eyes lit up and she wiggled, moaning, my cock stirred. I swore I was erect whenever I was around my mate. My balls ached almost as much as my heart.

"It's syrup. And these arepancakes," she breathed, lifting her arm and hooting while dancing in a circle, nearly sending her food onto the floor.

I enjoyed the sway of her lush ass, wishing we were alone so I could touch it. I'd also like to lift her onto a table, toss up her tunic, and dine onheragain instead of these cakes on a pan, a name that made no sense since they lay on a plate.

"What is that?" Jessia asked, peering at my dish.

"Pancakes and syrup," Vanessa announced, hugging her plate. "Let's chow, Aizor." She spun and strutted over to a table.

I stared at her ass.

"Your feelings for her have grown," Jessia observed.

"Fook eff."

"Fookwhat?" she asked, her face twisting.

"Fook effis . . ." How to best describe this? "A word Vanessa uses to express joy. She makes me happy."

"I see that." Jessia nodded sagely. "I'll keep these words close and use them at the appropriate moment. I cannot, however, findfook effin the gods' offering this morning. I hope my plate does not contain flat circles with brown liquid oozing around them."

Her breakfast lifted through the counter, and she sighed with happiness, taking it. "Moobars and troolon. Perfect." She turned and hefted it. "Fook. Fook eff! I can't wait to eat."

Vanessa stared at Jessia, her jaw unhinging before she started snickering.

Seeing her happy—the only goal in my life—I shoutedfook eff, and it was echoed by everyone in the room.

Wetness poured from Vanessa's eyes, but since she told me this was often an expression of joy, I could only grin as I joined her.

After eating, me only picking at the cakes from the plate with brown liquid because they tasted odd, we left to bathe.

I collected clean clothing for us before I led her down a tunnel to a more isolated pool.

Vanessa walked happily beside me. She swept her hand out toward the walls and the roof of the passage. "I suppose the gods created all this, too."

"If you mean they gave us light, then yes."

"Are yousureyou're not the gods and them the servants? They cook your food. They—"

"We hunt bribards."

"Okay, you hunt for meat, but they give you almost all of your other food."

"Yes."

"I'm not complaining after breakfast. I'm almost excited to see what they serve for my next meal."

Would food make her want to stay? I kept hoping it would be me.

"They wash and dry and fold your clothing," she added.

I frowned as we started walking down the slope. "I don't believe they fold anything. We leave the bath, and the clothing is waiting. It's draped. Not . . . folded."

"Semantics. They generate lights when you need them. They keep your homes clean."

"We live within their dead structures."

She stopped. "You mentioned that, how you didn't live here until a short time ago, after you and other traedors spoke to the crystal gods."

"Prior to that, my clan lived higher in the mountain. Our homes were crafted from bribard hides."

"Why leave the only home you'd ever known?"

"The gods invited us to live inside their exoskeletons once more. Should we leave them empty? Our ancestors lived within their bones, I suppose you could call them."

"I guess it didn't sink into me that we were sleeping and eating inside their corpses."

"I suppose we are. We don't think of it that way. Our ancestors lived within their structures, and now we do once more. They keep us warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Their exoskeletons are much nicer than our old hide homes. Everyone agrees."

"I still find all of this amazing."

I grinned. "I'm glad you think so." One more reason for her to stay?

"What about jewelry?"

"If you wish for precious stones to wear about your neck or in your ears, I'll collect them for you."

"Where? In your precious stone treasure trove?"

I sensed confusion in her words. I also sensed her tension was rising, though I couldn't imagine why she was unhappy to hear about all the wonderful things the gods would do for her when she agreed to remain here as my mate. "I can show you after we bathe."

"No laptops or cell phones. No Wi-Fi, though I don't imagine there's much I'd Google at this point other than Zuldruxians, which I'm sure will bring up nothing."

We reached the end of the tunnel and paused with the vast network of pools spread out in front of us.

"Your gods even gift you with mates." She was definitely beginning to sound surly.

I savored the sound, actually, because it made fire blaze in her eyes and her heady musk of arousal fill the air. Did she realize she liked me more when she tried to squabble?

"So far, I'm the only one gifted with a mate who I'm greatly devoted to." I added the last, hoping to sooth her.

"The only gifted mateso far."

The female with red hair had not been found. My males had returned yesterday and shrugged. Had she been gifted to another Zuldruxian? "You're special. The first for my clan."

"That's not reassuring."

I led her to the right and through another tunnel, continuing until we left the sound of clan chatter behind. The cave system was a network of tunnels containing many small alcoves with private pools. I was taking Vanessa to one I'd enjoyed many times when I wished to be alone. Prior to today, we'd bathed in those behind walls of flowering vines or crystal spikes.

"The other women from Earth are mates-in-waiting," she said. "They're prisoners, held in suspension until your gods decide it's Christmas time and they need to be stuffed inside someone's stocking."

"What's a stocking?"

"That's not the point."

I stopped and lifted her, pressing her against the smooth stone wall. Her legs naturally went around my waist and her hands latching onto my shoulders, both encouraging signs.

"I'm going to kiss you, my pretty mate," I said, staring at her mouth I couldn't wait to consume.

"Why?"

"Because I need you." I said it simply. Could she hear the sincerity in my voice? "You're not mad atme."

Her lips pursed. "Maybe I am."

"You're mad at our gods."

"Definitely that." Her body softened. "I'm sorry. I see what you're saying. I'm irritated with their high-handed ways, and I'm taking it out on you. I don't mean to. This . . . is a big adjustment for me."

"Which is why I brought you here today, to a place where we could be alone."

She wiggled the fluff lines above her eyes. "I thought you brought me here so you could take advantage of my willing body."

"Is your body willing?"

Her lips curled up on one side, and her gorgeous eyes glowed. "It could be persuaded."

"What about your mind?"

"Don't push it. I'm a work in progress."

Good enough. I tossed her over my shoulder, and while she laughed and squealed, I carried her inside the alcove holding my favorite pool. No one would disturb us. We would be alone for hours.

Oh, I was going to push it. No doubt about that.

No more waiting.

I was going to push it deep inside her.