31. Vanessa

Chapter 31

My cookies were a hit. As we sat around the fire that night, we consumed them all.

"More," Trevar said, licking chocolate off his face.

His mother laughed. "You ate four. No more. In fact, it's time for bed, younglings." Rising, she held out her hands.

"But . . ." Brulon's voice cratered with devastation. "She was going to tell us a story about a meermaid."

"It won't take long," I said. "I can start the tale tonight and finish it tomorrow."

"Are you sure?" she asked. "It would please them—and me—very much, but you crafted something wonderful for us today already. It seems like a lot to ask you to entertain us as well."

"It's not a problem. Gather ‘round, younglings." I patted the ground next to where I sat. The boys scampered over, and even baby Willire gaped in my direction. She'd finished nursing—from a tube projecting from beneath one of her mother's four breasts—and now sat gurgling, kicking her feet. She was adorable. I wanted a baby just like her.

My gaze was drawn to Aizor who sat in one of the chairs he'd crafted himself, watching me. Heat flared in his eyes at my attention, and he gave me a smile that made everything inside me melt.

I had to give the crystal alien my decision in two days.

What was it going to be?

To avoid thinking about it, I started the story about the mermaid, and everyone was soon enthralled. Everything was new to these people, and I'd watched a lot of movies and read thousands of books. I had enough stories for three lifetimes.

When the boys started yawning, I smiled at their mom. "And I'll continue this story tomorrow."

"Aw, what about the prince?" Brulon asked. "And how can the mermaid make him love her if she can't talk?"

My gaze was drawn to Aizor. "I believe the prince will find a way."

"Aww, please?" Burlon asked.

"You'll have to wait until tomorrow night to find out what happens next. I promise you're going to be happy with the ending." Here, no one knew what a happily ever after was, but they'd soon learn.

The boys left and not long after that, so did most of the Zuldruxians, heading to bed now that it was dark.

Aizor and I put out the fire and went to his home. Our home?

I'd decided I was going to tell him my decision tomorrow. I didn't want to wait to tell the crystal aliens first. Aizor deserved to be the first to know.

"Should we bathe before going to bed?" I asked him.

He cocked his head my way, studying my face. "Just bathing?"

"Well." I trailed my fingertip down his bare chest. "Maybe a bit more than just a bath if you're up for it."

"I'm always up for bathing, my mate."

His cock pressing against the inside of his loincloth proved it.

Stepping away from me, he held out his hand. Like always, he bristled with weapons straps, with long crystal blades spiking up from either side of his back, plus sheaths on his thighs and around his waist holding even more, though shorter blades. He was a walking arsenal, and frankly, I only had to look at my alien warrior to be turned on.

I took his hand, and he backed toward the cave entrance, tugging me along with him.

Inside, he lifted me and nudged me against the cold stone wall. It shocked me as much as his hot heat pressing against my front did, and I couldn't get enough. I wrapped my legs and arms around him and moaned, opening my mouth to deepen our kiss.

Our mouths still connected and with me wrapped around his body, Aizor stepped away from the wall and stumbled down the tunnel, diving into one of the first pools we came to. A glance out of the corner of my eyes showed we were alone, at least. I didn't think we'd used this pool before, but maybe we should make a plan to bathe our way through them all.

My snicker broke through the kiss, and he lifted his head, chuckling along with me even though he didn't know why I'd laughed.

"You, lovely Vanessa, are about to get a solid taste of your alien mate."

"I like the solid idea, as well as a taste."

He lowered me to my feet and quickly stripped me. His loincloth dropped to the ground, where it melted into the dirt, the gods absorbing it for cleaning. I'd even gotten somewhat used to that. No dirty clothing to trip over and no worrying about finding time to hang things out to dry.

We climbed into the pool and sank onto seats, both of us moaning about how amazing it felt. My skin was softer than it had ever been and . . . well, who could complain about natural lube? Especially with a guy as big as Aizor.

He attacked, pressing me against the surround.

I succumbed, climbing all over him again, urging his hands to roam my body just as his mouth devoured mine. He was addicting in a way I'd never anticipated. Pure, heady lust rippled through me. I'd never get enough.

His fingers slid between my legs, and I bucked against him, needing him fast and furious. I adored his gentleness, but right now, I wanted high heat and full charge ahead.

"Now," I growled the moment I came up for air.

"At your command, my lovely mate." He spun me around and jerked up my hips.

I braced myself against the side of the tub, groaning as he rubbed the head of his cock against me. He delved a little inside me, spreading the natural slippery stuff in the water.

And then he braced my hips and plunged inside, driving hard to seat himself fully.

We both groaned again.

He leaned over me, caging my body with his own, and started moving. Slowly at first, but as his second cock coiled around to latch onto my clit, he gave way. Like a flood rising after a violent storm, he was a wall that couldn't be denied.

"More, more, more," I snarled.

He laughed, but then his entire body shuddered, and he started moving faster, driving into me so hard my thighs butted against the stone surround.

I was on fire, and nothing was going to put out the blaze but this male. With each thrust, I released a sharp bark of pleasure. His growls joined in, and he went even faster.

And when his fingertips curled beneath me, finding my nipples and rolling them, I gave way, waves ripping through my body.

His shout of pleasure joined in, and he pumped even faster. Harder. Driving me into a second orgasm.

Only then did his pace slow. He kept moving gently after that while my body kept quivering, loving what came after as much as it had savored what came first.

The next morning, I woke in our fur bed to find him gone, but that wasn't unusual. Sometimes Aizor had meetings with various members of his clan. He'd finish and come back to me.

He'd always come back to me, and the knowledge thrilled through me.

I knew what I had to do. How should I tell him?

I left our crystal home, and spying Franklin scooting past the dining building and along a trail weaving into the woods, I hurried to the kitchen, requested a plate of food, and followed.

"Franklin," I called out as I entered the woods. I stopped, looking around, but I didn't see him. His usual whine didn't greet me either. "Where are you, little guy?" I walked farther down the path, calling out to him periodically.

The trail wove below the cliffs to the left of the circle of crystal homes, and I kept stopping to admire the spiky vegetation that bent at my touch yet felt and looked like solid glass. How long had the crystal aliens been on this planet? It must be thousands of years, since their structures were prevalent in everything I'd seen so far. It took a long time for a person to acclimate to eating glassy vegetation, so maybe we were talking about millions of years.

Would I ever learn more about their history? They were tightly woven into Zuldruxian society, to the point the people believed the crystals were gods. In many ways, they served that role well. They cared for the people and had a close-knit relationship with them. I wasn't one to discount anyone else's religion.

The ground dropped off considerably on my right, the edge of the path giving way to a steep, jagged cliff made up of boulders, scruffy trees, and rich, purple soil flecked with gold.

I hugged the inside of the trail as I walked.

"Franklin?" Finally, I came to a stop. "Where are you?"

His whine rang out ahead, and I hurried in that direction, rounding a curve in the path to find him sitting not far ahead.

I dropped to my heels and laid the plate on the ground.

He started forward but stopped suddenly, hissing.

Someone rushed up behind me and shoved my back.

I skidded across the path on my belly and toppled over the side of the cliff.