25. Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Damascus

Damascus watched Iris come awake. He'd woken marks ago, but the human needed more sleep than him, so he was content to lay next to her, watching her sleep. Unlike him, she woke slowly, moving around a little and then finally opening her eyes. Even though her mind wasn't fully processing yet, her lips stretched, the corners tilting up.

She smiled up at him before she probably realized her location or even what day it was. She was happy because he was there. It never failed to make him catch his breath.

After Dandilow II, Iris had started sleeping in his room. She'd wait until Mia was asleep, then sneak off to spend the rest of the night with him. He was thankful for Dek-lee. Without the Delorta close at hand, Iris probably wouldn't be comfortable spending her slumbering hours with him.

They always made sure to rise early enough to be dressed and back at Iris's cabin so Mia didn't wake up alone. He'd started looking forward to the routine. Nights with Iris, and the rest of the time with Iris, Mia, and Dek-lee. He'd never felt so peaceful. Not even on Lotrom with the Nimon family.

Even now they were probably approaching a stable orbit around Balforge. These were his last moments with Iris. He didn't want her to get up yet; he needed to hold her for as long as he was able.

"Good morning," she mumbled. "What time is it?"

"Very early," he assured her. "The morning chime won't sound for another four marks. You should probably return to your sleeping state."

"I don't think I can go back to sleep," Iris said, shifting around until she was facing him.

Worry made him sound an inquisitive rumble. "It's only been five marks, you need at least four more marks of sleep to be truly rested. Do you need a sleep inducer?"

Her eyes sparkled with humor as she answered. "I think I do."

He didn't understand what she found so amusing until he felt her little hand tracing the lip of his mating pouch.

She wanted him to be her sleep inducer!

"I'm a willing medication," he agreed. Grabbing her, he rolled onto his back, taking her with him. Giggling, she put a leg on either side of him, straddling his stomach. They were both naked, so he reached up to cup one of her breasts, marveling at her soft flesh.

"You're so very beautiful," he said. "I could never tire of touching you, soul flower."

She made a happy sound, pressing against his touch. She looked down at him with half-closed eyes. "What's a soul flower?"

As he always did when she asked that question, he distracted her.

Sitting up, he put his mouth to hers and demanded a kiss. She'd been too tired the night before for sex, so she wasn't slathered in his bonding oil yet.

As they kissed, he ran a hand down her back to cup her ass. He adored the way her soft, curvy body was so different from his. When his scent glands overfilled with oil, he broke the kiss and moved his head to rub the oil on her chest. She leaned back to give him better access as he spread his oil over her skin.

"God that smells good," she murmured.

"On you it does," he agreed. His bonding oil alone was nothing, but after it soaked into her skin, it changed slightly. The scent was deeper and richer. Smelling the shifted oil scent coming off her skin triggered something deep in him.

Something primal.

With a growl, he shifted their position so she was under him. She gasped then moaned as he sucked one of her nipples into his mouth. He massaged the other breast with his hand, enjoying the way she squirmed under him.

"Damascus," she moaned.

He knew what she was begging for; she wanted a little bit of teeth. Carefully he dragged his front teeth across the sensitive flesh. She sucked in a breath and moved her hands to his head. She didn't try to stop him. Her fingers were there massaging his scent glands.

Despite spreading his oil all over her chest, more oil seeped out and overflowed her palm. He felt it drip down his face and onto her.

Her touch caused sparks of pleasure to shoot down his spine. That pushed more blood into his mating shaft. The edge of the pouch snapped back and his shaft and seed sack spilled out.

Letting go of his face, Iris reached down and started massaging his shaft with her small hands. It was awkward and she could only reach the head, but that was enough to make him suck in a harsh breath.

"Easy, soul flower. I don't want to cum yet."

"But I do," she said, her voice breathless. "I'm ready, right now. You always spend so much time with foreplay. Can we get right to the cumming? Please!"

He enjoyed teasing her to the point of orgasm then withdrawing his touch and doing it again. She'd gotten frustrated enough to threaten him with bodily harm a few times. Perhaps this once he'd give in to her.

After he enjoyed himself a little longer though.

"I need a taste first," he answered, rubbing his cheeks over her breasts before kissing and rubbing his way down between her legs.

"Only a taste?" she asked.

"Perhaps a small meal," he amended. Her laugh was cut off when he settled between her legs and licked open her sex.

She tasted good, but something was missing. Rubbing his face up and down her slit, he covered her tender flesh with his bonding oil. When their scents mingled, he took a deep breath, reveling in the smell.

"Oh, damn that's good!" she moaned. "Warm and tingly."

He almost sat back and used only his fingertips to tease her but then remembered he was being good. He would let her race to the reward.

Fitting his mouth over her clit, he started licking, nipping, and finally sucking. By the time he drew the little bud of nerves into his mouth, she was grasping the sheets with white-knuckled fists.

Feeling her body start to tense, he pulled away.

"No!" she wailed, looking up at him with a betrayed expression. "You promised!"

"I'm not denying you," he explained as he moved his body into position. "But I want us to finish together. I want to feel you tighten around me."

"Oh, yeah, that would be good!" she said and let her head fall back while wrapping one leg around him, urging him closer.

Fitting the head of his cock to her entrance, he pushed forward slowly, watching his length disappear into her hot, wet sheath. They both moaned when he bottomed out.

It was good she was close because he wasn't going to last long.

Grabbing her hips, he angled her body a little and pulled out. When only his head was still inside her, he paused, then pushed forward again. Iris wrapped her other leg around him and tightened.

"More," she demanded.

"We're doing this at my pace," he growled.

She bared her teeth at him, but it was all for show. When he thrust forward, her lips parted in a soundless gasp.

Every time they had sex, he made a careful study of Iris. He knew this wasn't enough for her. As much as he wanted to keep watching where they were intimately connected, he needed to change the angle for her pleasure.

Shifting his legs, he lowered his upper body, supporting his weight on his elbows on either side of her. Eager for him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. She moaned into his mouth as he set a punishing rhythm that slid his cock against her clit with every thrust.

Her stiffening body and desperate mewling sounds told him she was close. His orgasm loomed, but he held it off.

With a cry, her body tightened around his shaft, squeezing him mercilessly. It was the permission he needed. Pleasure swamped him as he filled her with his seed.

Iris shuddered under him, breaking the kiss so she could pant.

"That was good," she said when she'd gotten her breath back. She patted him on the top of the head. "Such a good Talin!"

He sounded an amused rumble even as pleasure was still ricocheting around in his body. With careful calculation, he rolled them over so she was on top of him. It was a position she liked immediately after sex. Relaxing on top of him, she sounded a contented sigh.

"You get perfect marks for not making me wait," she said, then yawned.

He rubbed a hand up and down her back as he started up a soothing rumble. "I promised I wouldn't. I was too impatient anyway."

"Remember that for next time," she mumbled, her voice slurring. "It's better to cum instead of edging the human until she's ready to scream."

"Yes, Iris. I'll remember that," he agreed. When she didn't respond, he realized she was asleep even though he was still buried deep inside her.

Sticky cum was leaking out from around the edges of his cock, soaking the sheets around him. The scent of it mixed with her desire and his bonding oil creating a heady scent he'd never forget.

Giving all of this up was the hardest thing he'd ever do in his life, but he had made a promise. He was almost there, he couldn't give it up now.

"I'll miss you, soul flower," he whispered to her.

She didn't wake. Closing his eyes, he savored the feel of her in his arms for the few remaining marks they had.

***

Iris

Iris woke to find Damascus gone. Next to her in his bunk was her information square. A corner of it was lit up, telling her there was a message.

Yawning, she sat up and grabbed the square. It took a few tries, but her sleepy brain finally got the thing activated and the message filled the display.

Inner Ship Communication

From: Untitled Damascus

To: Human Iris

She snorted at the message's header. Everyone had a formal ship title for messages, and if no title was entered the default was Untitled . She found it funny but every Talin except Damascus would probably be insulted.

She'd have to ask if he found it amusing too. Then they'd need to come up with a title.

I never told you what soul flower means. I know you've been curious, but the name is deeply personal, and I wasn't ready to share until now. As you know, I was raised on Rora colony. That colony is known for several things, including a rare celestial event. Nearby, there is a highly magnetized rotating neutron star that emits pulsars. The pulsars would normally be invisible to the naked eye, but due to the artificial exosphere of that colony, the pulsars were visible for several marks every ten solars.

This event was a colony-wide holiday. All artificial lights would be turned off, and we would all gather in designated spots to watch. I have very strong childhood memories of the pulsars hitting the exosphere. I knew all the science behind it, but it still struck me as magical. I thought it looked like a giant flower slowly opening brilliant green and blue petals in the sky.

I never told anyone, but it felt as if the universe was calling to me those nights. The flower was beckoning me to the stars. She was calling to my soul. Most Talins don't leave Rora colony, but I did. I followed my soul flower and left Rora colony for the stars.

For a long time I regretted that decision. I was so broken after what happened on Lotrom that I cursed that celestial event. Then I met you. You called to me with the same power as her. You're a soul flower also. I no longer regret my choices because they led me to you.

Thank you, my soul flower. You and Mia will always be the best thing that ever happened to me.

After reading Damascus's message, Iris scrambled to her feet and threw on clothes. There was no way that letter was anything but a goodbye. She'd be damned if she was going to let him get away with that!