20. Gravod

She would never know.

Never have any idea what it cost me to keep from marking her.

As my seal pressed against her, seating me firmly. As Jess's beautiful body pulsed around me, again and again, demanding my seed. As she cried out my fucking name.

I deserved the highest praise for holding back, when her neck had begged for my bite and my teeth ached to claim her.

And I would hold back again, until she was ready. But once she was…

Perhaps I'd feel the bond take hold. If that worked with humans. But even if it didn't, I would mark her as mine.

My mate. My love. My sta'la.

Dawn had broken, but Jess was sound asleep, draped over me, her chest against mine. Her breaths were deep and even, hot exhales caressing my collarbone. I couldn't resist any longer. I slipped a ta'lap between us, stroking over her abdomen. It was still swollen with my seed. A rumble of approval sounded in my chest.

She stirred, and I followed my instincts, sliding the ta'lap down over her mound and between her thighs. When it stroked through her folds and probed her entrance, she let out a breathy moan. Soon she was fully awake, her hips rocking to increase the friction.

As much as I wanted to, it was too soon to give her my cock again. She had been so unbelievably tight. I was thankful for my sagar, for being able to prepare her enough to take all of me. It was a miracle we fit.

But I could still wring another orgasm from her. Fuck. Her climax while we were joined by my seal had been a thing of beauty.

I pushed the ta'lap into her pussy and savored her sharp intake of breath. The moaning sounds she made as I stroked, in and out. And then she wrapped her fingers around my cock and pushed her fist down against my seal.

I shouted.

Somehow I kept up the thrusting of my ta'lap inside her as my cock moved reflexively in her grip, my seal snug to her fist. She writhed on me, her hard nipples rubbing against my pecs. We both cried out our climax at the same moment, chests heaving and pressed together. I came in hot pulses against her swollen stomach.

This was only the beginning, but I knew. My hunger for her would never be sated.

She panted against me. "I can't believe I have to go to work tomorrow."

I had the urge to flip her over and fuck her again, to erase any thoughts in her mind other than my cock and how good it made her feel. But then my phone buzzed, and I recognized the tone as a message from Ryoch.

"I need to take this."

Jess nodded and pulled away as soon as my ta'laps loosened around her. She didn't meet my eyes. I could feel her putting up a wall between us, but I stayed calm. Now that I was certain my appearance didn't concern her, everything else seemed manageable.

Her world had been turned upside down in the past two days. It was a lot for her to think about, and I needed to give her time. Patience.

I'd fuck her until she couldn't deny what this was. I smiled to myself. Good plan.

Jess drifted silently to the bathroom, and I sat up and reached for the phone.

Thylor is causing trouble. Call me.

It rang once before Ryoch picked up.

"What's going on?"

"He's sending me links to social media posts and fringe news articles about an alien invasion. All of it is fiction. None of it's about us. I think he's threatening to make it about us."

"Shit."

It was a fundamental betrayal, one of the worst crimes a Lydaxian could commit, to expose us during a mission. Especially on a planet that wasn't aware of life in other systems. We had strict laws about not revealing ourselves, established to ensure we didn't interfere in the natural development of another planet's technology.

To ensure we didn't start a war. It had happened in the distant past, and we'd learned from our mistakes.

"I don't know where he is, Gravod. We can't find him."

"Jake is looking. Thylor can't stay in hiding forever." I itched to go searching for him myself, but despite what I said, I knew it was pointless. We were all good at blending in and disappearing. It was what we did.

There was a long pause on the line before Ryoch spoke again.

"I'm not sure I can be of much help right now. My mate…"

"I understand. You don't need to explain. But Ryoch, I have good news."

"What?" He sounded desperate for anything.

I could hear Jess showering, but I lowered my voice anyway.

"My mate is pleased with my appearance."

His swallow was audible. "You…showed her?"

"She demanded it. And she enjoyed…everything." I didn't want to go into details. Jess's reactions were mine alone.

Ryoch let out a long breath.

"Thank you for telling me. It gives me hope."

"Take care of your mate, my friend. I'll deal with Thylor."

"Thank you, Captain."

He hung up.

The weight of my position and my responsibilities settled over me. As much as I wanted to spend all my time with Jess, I had obligations to my crew and the mission.

When she walked back into the bedroom, she was wrapped in a towel, her hair and skin damp. I watched her from where I sat on the bed, but I was distracted, allowing my ta'laps to snake and coil around me as I considered my next move. It was a relief not to be hiding them from her any longer.

"You look worried," she said, glancing at my ta'laps. "Like you're fidgeting."

I stilled. Then I smiled. "Very perceptive. Ta'lap movements can be a form of expression among Lydaxians, like gestures."

"Is it hard to keep them in?"

I shrugged. "When I'm shifted, it's usually easy. Even when I sleep, I can maintain the shift. But this is my most relaxed state, when I'm not controlling my skin."

"So, if I was walking around on Vytaris…"

"You'd see ta'laps used openly, like extra arms."

"Hmm."

She seemed to be picturing it, and my mind went somewhere I couldn't allow it to go. Imagining her with me on Vytaris. Showing her my planet and introducing her to my family.

Thoughts like that could only bring me pain. I was here now, and for the rest of my life. That was the decision I'd made to find my mate.

And she was perfect, standing in front of me and smelling of my soap, as though marked with my scent. I wanted to take her again, feel her squirm and clamp down on my cock, give her more of my seed.

But I had work to do.

"I have some things I need to take care of today. You have a lot to think about. I'll drive you home, and then tomorrow I'll come to your apartment after you get home from work."

She blinked. Then she laughed.

"You will, huh?"

"Yes."

She raised an eyebrow, and I thought maybe I was missing something.

"Okay. I'll be a good girl and let you visit."

Her grin was overtly sexual, teasing. I wanted to pull her across the room and fuck her while she looked at me like that, gently nibble her neck until her teasing turned to begging.

Staying away from her until tomorrow was going to be very difficult.