Chapter 13

THIRTEEN

Turi threaded the needle with steady hands, her gaze focused on the task before her. The needle was thick and the thread strong, but she handled them with practiced ease. Sewing was a skill all Terian females learned early in life, necessary for mending clothes and fabrics that were as old as the settlements themselves. Now, she used those skills to tend to Ellion’s wound.

She knelt behind him where he sat on the bed. Her knees pressing into the soft fabric of the cushion behind his narrow hips. The air in the room was thick with tension and the faint metallic scent of his dragon blood. The torn wing was thick and hard to pierce, and she worked with great care to align the edges so it would heal properly. Her fingers brushed against his scales, cool and smooth under her touch.

Ellion sat motionless. His massive wings were partially unfurled to give her better access to the torn membrane. His breathing was steady, but she could sense the underlying tension in his body. She was acutely aware of the heat emanating from his skin, the way his muscles shifted and bunched beneath her touch. The scent of him—a heady mix of something dark and spicy—filled her senses, making her heart race. It was both exhilarating and terrifying to be this close to him, to touch him so intimately.

With each stitch, Turi’s attraction to Ellion grew stronger. The proximity was intoxicating, and she found herself drawn to him in a way she couldn’t fully understand or explain. It was more than just physical attraction—it was a connection that seemed to transcend the boundaries of their vastly different species.

As she worked, Turi found her gaze drawn to the strong lines of Ellion’s face—the sharp angle of his jaw, the fullness of his lips, the intense dark of his eyes that seemed to see right through her. There was a vulnerability in his expression that she had never seen before, a raw honesty that made her ache for him. Despite the revelations about his past and the role he had unwittingly played in the Terians’ suffering, she couldn’t deny the depth of her feelings for him. He was not the monster she had been raised to fear. He was a victim, just like her people, trapped in a web of lies and manipulation spun by the Axis.

Her heart raced as she tied off the final stitch and snipped the thread with a small pair of scissors. The wound was closed, the edges of the tear now joined by her careful handiwork. She placed the needle and thread on a small table beside the bed, then allowed herself to take a moment to simply admire the powerful being before her.

“There,” she said, sitting back to admire her handiwork. “That should hold until it heals.”

Ellion flexed his wing gently, testing the repair. Ellion’s scales shimmered with an iridescent sheen, reflecting the soft glow of the ion fireplace. A faint wince crossed his features, but he nodded in approval. “You have a talent for this,” he observed, his voice carrying a note of admiration that warmed Turi from the inside out.

“I’ve always been good with my hands,” she said, a hint of playfulness creeping into her tone. “I’m glad you weren’t lying about knowing how long you’ve been here, Ellion,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “And I forgive you for not telling me the truth about the Terians being prisoners. I understand why you weren’t eager to share that. It’s a lot to take in.”

Ellion’s eyes met hers, the deep silver depths reflecting gratitude and something else—something that made Turi’s breath hitch in her throat. “Thank you, Turi,” he replied, his voice rough with emotion. “I wanted to make sure you trusted me before I told you.” He shrugged. “And I needed to trust you, too. I couldn’t have you trying to run back to the settlement to tell them.”

“I won’t be doing that. They wouldn’t believe me, anyway.” She put the needle and thread away, her movements deliberate and precise. The tension in the room had shifted, replaced by an undercurrent of something electric and charged. Turi’s pulse quickened, her body acutely attuned to Ellion’s presence.

Being this close to him was intoxicating. She was drawn to him, as if a force constantly beckoned her closer, urging her to close the space between them. The air crackled with a palpable energy. A connection that went beyond the physical. Turi’s gaze lingered on the broad expanse of his chest, the smooth, scaled surface that rose and fell with each steady breath.

Her voice was a whisper, her words tinged with a boldness she hadn’t known she possessed. “Can I…touch you?”

Ellion’s breath caught at her request, his eyes shifting to an impenetrable darkness. “Yes.” The single word was heavy with unspoken desire.

With trembling fingers, Turi reached out to trace the contours of his chest, feeling the hard planes and ridges of his muscles beneath her touch. His skin was warm, almost hot to the touch, and the scales that covered him shimmered with an iridescent sheen. She explored the lines of his wings and the thick ridges of muscle that supported them. Her hands moved over the sensitive wings as they quivered under her fingertips, and the powerful column of his neck.

Ellion sat perfectly still, allowing her to explore, his body rigid with restraint. But when her hand slipped lower, brushing low on his abdomen, a low growl escaped his lips—a sound that was both a warning and a plea.

Turi’s eyes flicked up to meet his, a rush of heat flooding her cheeks as she realized the effect she was having on him. “Oh. I’m sorry.” She pulled her hand away abruptly. “I shouldn’t have—”

“Turi,” he said, his voice a low growl that sent shivers down her spine. “You should have.” Turi’s heart raced as Ellion’s hands encircled her wrists, his grip firm yet gentle as he placed her hands back on his body. His touch ignited a fire within her, a longing that she had tried so hard to suppress. His gaze bored into hers, reflecting the turmoil of the day and the raw desire that simmered just beneath the surface. He drew her closer until their bodies were almost flush against each other. “I want you to know how much I desire you. How much I want to be with you, to explore every inch of you with my hands, my mouth…”

His words trailed off, and Turi could feel the heat of his breath on her skin, smell the intoxicating scent of him—a heady mix of something dark and spicy that was uniquely Ellion. Her own breath hitched in her throat as she processed his confession, her body instinctively leaning into his.

Turi’s heart raced in a wild, frantic rhythm that matched the tumultuous storm of emotions swirling within her. The revelations about the Axis, the penal colony, and Ellion’s past were staggering, and yet, here they were, teetering on the edge of something new, something forbidden, and something inherently theirs. “I know where it would go if I did continue,” she whispered, her voice trembling with anticipation and a hint of fear. The sensations were overwhelming, and she could feel the wetness between her thighs, the aching need that throbbed in time with her heartbeat.

Ellion’s gaze dropped to her lips, and he licked his own in a gesture that was purely predatory. “Yes,” he acknowledged, his voice thick with desire. “Eventually, it would lead to me burying my cock deep inside your cunt, claiming you as my own. But not now. Not tonight. It’s been too much today for both of us.”

Turi’s eyes widened at his blunt words, but they only served to stoke the fire burning within her. She could feel the hard length of him pressing against her belly, a tangible reminder of his desire and the promise of what was to come.

“But I want you to feel this,” he continued, releasing one of her wrists to trail his fingers down her arm, leaving a trail of goose bumps in their wake. “I want you to remember the way I make you feel—wanted, desired, cherished. And I want you to understand that this…this is only the beginning.”

His hand moved to her face, cupping her cheek tenderly as he gazed into her eyes. Turi felt as though she were melting under his touch, her body yearning for more, for the intimacy they both craved.

“Ellion,” she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. “I… I feel it too.”

His thumb stroked her cheekbone, the sensation sending ripples of pleasure through her. “Good,” he said, his voice filled with satisfaction. “Because I intend to show you just how good it can be between us. Soon, I will make you mine in every way.”

Ellion’s breath was ragged as his hands moved to her top. His fingers brushed her skin as he lifted it up and over her head. His eager gaze to fall on her naked breasts. A low growl rumbled from his chest. Turi flush with bashfulness. She was not used to being on display, to being admired so openly and hungrily. But the way Ellion looked at her—like she was the most beautiful, most desirable creature in the universe—wiped away all traces of self-consciousness.

Turi’s breath hitched as he cupped her breasts. His thumbs teased her nipples into stiff peaks. The sensation was electric, sending jolts of pleasure coursing through her body, and she couldn’t help but arch into his touch, craving more. The air in the room was cool against her suddenly exposed skin, but the heat of his touch seared her, branding her with a fire that only he could ignite.

She touched the firm muscles of his chest beneath her palms, the steady thrum of his heartbeat matching her own. It was a rhythm of life, of desire, that pulsed between them, growing stronger with each passing moment.

His lips trailed hot, open-mouthed kisses down the column of her throat, over the sensitive skin of her collarbone, and lower still. When his mouth closed over one taut nipple, Turi moaned, her fingers tangling in his dark hair as he lavished attention on first one breast and then the other. The feel of his tongue, wet and warm, lapping at her, was exquisite, and she could feel herself growing slick with need.

Ellion’s hands roamed over her body, exploring every curve and dip as if memorizing her by touch alone. His fingers skimmed the waistband of her pants, and with a deft flick of his wrist, he undid the fastening and slid them down her hips, leaving her completely bare to him. Turi felt a flush of heat spread across her cheeks at the thought of his eyes on her, but her nerves were quickly replaced by a surge of arousal as he gently urged her to lie back on the bed.

He knelt before her, his silver eyes gleaming with desire as he took in the sight of her naked body. Turi’s breath caught in her throat as he leaned forward, his hands parting her thighs to make room for himself. The first touch of his tongue against her most intimate place was like a spark to tinder, igniting a fire within her that threatened to consume her whole.

Ellion’s mouth worshipped her, his tongue delving into her folds, tasting her, teasing her. Each lap, each flick of his tongue against her swollen clit sent waves of pleasure crashing over her, drawing gasps and moans from her lips. The stubble on his cheeks grazed her inner thighs, adding a tantalizing rasp to the sensual onslaught.

Turi’s hands fisted the sheets beside her as she surrendered to the exquisite sensations. Tension coiled tight within her belly as her body trembled on the edge of release. Ellion’s fingers joined in, sliding into her wet heat, pumping slowly at first, then increasing in rhythm as he curled them just so, hitting that perfect spot inside her.

The dual assault of his fingers and tongue pushed her over the edge, and with a cry, Turi shattered, her body convulsing as ripples of pleasure radiated out from her core. Ellion rode out the waves with her, his mouth gentle now, soothing her as she came down from the heights of her orgasm.

As her breathing began to even out, Turi watched through heavy-lidded eyes. “Ellion,” she said huskily. “Can you do something for me?”

He closed his eyes, nostrils flared as he fought for control. “Anything.”

“I want to see you,” she said, looking pointedly where his cock strained at his pants. “I want to feel you.”

Ellion visibly shuddered, but rose to his feet and shed his own clothing. The sight of his naked body took her breath away. His muscles rippled beneath his scales as he moved, and his cock stood proud and erect, a testament to his desire for her. It was long, dark purple, with ridges along the entire length. Different from the descriptions of Terian males, for sure.

Ellion joined her on the bed once more, laying his body beside hers. “You may touch, if you wish.”

She did. Her hands came out eagerly to explore him. She smiled when he drew in a sharp breath and fisted his own hands in the sheet, as she got to know the contours and shape of him. He was hot, likely from the dragon in him, and impossibly hard. He wanted her.

“I want to please you, as you did me,” she said, running her hands up and down his ridged length. “Show me how.”

“Turi, you are pleasing me,” he ground out. “Very much. It’s taking all my effort to not release my seed right here in your hands.”

She cocked her head. “Why are you holding back?” she asked, genuinely curious. “Is there something wrong with your…” Seed wasn’t the word they used at the settlement, but “essence,” which was a strange word for it, really. Perhaps Zaruxians actually ejaculated real seeds from their cocks. They certainly were big enough to do so. “Anyway, you should not be ashamed.”

He let out a rusty laugh. “Not ashamed. Just don’t want it to be over—” He gasped as she squeezed the end of his cock. “Too fast.”

She grinned. “So you wouldn’t want me to do this…” She lowered her head toward his cock and he reared away.

“Not that,” he panted. “ Fek me, I can’t survive that right now.”

How delightful sexual experiences were turning out to be. From their first kiss to this, it was all vastly different from how her mother and a few other bonded females told her it would be. Sex acts were things to endure, for the most part, and submit to, of course. The primary purpose of a female Terian was to produce offspring. But pleasure , was never in the descriptions.

“Okay, I won’t do that yet,” she said. “But I do want to see this ‘seed’ of yours. Can you plant them?”

He blinked at her, then humor lit in his dark eyes. “The only place my seed will take root is in your womb, if we’re compatible species. I don’t know if we are.”

“Oh.” So, maybe it was like Terian essence. Either way, she’d find out soon, as she increased her pace until he was panting and thrusting into her hands and he finally erupted, emptying himself into the shirt he’d abandoned before she’d entered the room, and shuddering as if he were in intense pain. Concerned, she leaned forward. “Oh, no. Did I hurt you?”

He laughed, his whole body shaking. “No, Turi. You did not hurt me. Quite the opposite.”

“You feel…good?” She glanced at the essence, relieved to see no “seeds.”

“I have never felt so good in my life.” He crushed his mouth to hers, dragging her close and kissing her deep.

With a gentle sigh, Ellion released her and leaned back, his wings rustled as he rearranged them behind him. “We should get some rest,” he said, his voice filled with regret. “You will sleep here with me tonight.”

Turi’s heart skipped a beat at his words. Her body still hummed in the aftermath of the orgasm he’d give her and the desire that would only be sated when they joined. “I’d like that,” she agreed, though every fiber of her being ached to close the distance between them once more. She lay down beside him and smiled as his huge wing covered her.

Her imagination brimmed with the possibilities of what lay ahead for them. She could picture them free from the Axis and able to live without fear of repercussions. For now, though, she could only dream of such freedom. They were still prisoners of the Axis, still bound by rules that they were clearly violating. But as Turi leaned into Ellion’s strong body and listened as his breath deepened into sleep, she knew that they would find a way to be together. They had to.