Chapter 12 Grogen

Grogen growled as he pumped into his female. Abby was everything he’d imagined and more.

The bloodlust slowly subsided as he fucked her, his cheek creases folding back in and his fangs retracting. He felt more in control now and slowed down, worried that he had hurt her in his hurry to claim her and assuage the bloodlust. But there was no fear in her eyes or pain in her scent, just raw lust and pleasure.

Abby was beautiful, splayed out on the very desk he’d fantasized fucking her on so many times. She arched her back, thrusting her breasts out like an offering. He cupped them in his palms, lightly pinching a nipple, which elicited an excited hiss.

“So perfect,” he murmured, enjoying the immaculate view.

She was sliding up the desk, so he grasped her hips and lifted them to meet his. The new angle had him hitting something inside her that had her screaming. He loved how reactive she was, how every brush of his pelvis against the little nub above her sex had her crying out in breathy moans. It was so easy to please her when she gave him all the feedback he wanted.

He wanted to go slow but he couldn’t, not when she was writhing underneath him like that. Her breathing grew faster, and her channel started to tighten around him even more. He had to fight to even move now, but it was a good fight, and he relished every moment of it.

Her screaming stopped and she froze, mouth open in a silent ‘O.’ She was milking him, her hot cunt squeezing him in rhythm as her body shook and pulsed around him.

“Good girl. That’s it. Come all over my cock.”

He bent to nuzzle the pale column of her neck, even as he continued thrusting into her. She was sobbing and clutching him now, spent from her release. Grogen thrust a few more times before giving himself over to pleasure as well and spilling his seed into her with a grunt.

Soon, there was nothing but the sound of their breathing and the pounding of blood in his ears.

Grogen held Abby for some time, waiting for the tightness in his chest to fade. But it didn’t, and he realized what it was: the mate bond was starting, and it was forming fast. It felt like he was tumbling head-first and uncontrolled into the unknown. Any second now, it would be too late.

He tried to calm his panic. It was too soon. Humans took time to fall in love. He’d heard of instances of human females rejecting their mates because they had moved too fast and had scared them away. That categorically could not happen to him. He wouldn’t survive it. Now he understood why some Talleans, rejected by their mate, often slowly went insane, unable to sleep or eat, their thoughts getting more twisted with every passing day. Some ultimately survived, but they were a husk of what they once were.

He needed time to convince her to accept him, time for love to catch up with the mate bond. That meant he had to avoid her for a few days, at least: if he continued spending time with her like this, he was sure the bond would solidify soon.

He closed his eyes and inhaled their mingled scents. This would have to last him for the next few days as he forced the bond to cool down. Once he’d committed the unique combined aroma to memory, he released her and they cleaned up before returning to the staff room.

“Yes!”

Abby was grinning from ear to ear while holding her comm unit victoriously in the air. Her eyes met Grogen’s.

“I found a place! Well, Jenny did. A lady from her book club moved in with her mate and can’t get a refund back from her building. It’s only temporary since it goes to the next person on the waitlist after her contract is up, but it means I’ll have plenty of time to find a permanent place. And I’ll get part of my rent back for leaving early!”

During the next few hours, as the colony plows made the streets navigable again and the guards evicted the dragus intruders, Abby got everything organized. Grogen was simultaneously disappointed and relieved.

He offered again to help her move and was surprised when she said they could do it today.

“Dinah’s already moved out. It’s ready anytime I am.”

Everything had worked out perfectly. Abby having a safe place to stay immediately meant he could stay home and see if he could slow down the mate bond.

They stayed at the shop until well past midday, waiting for the announcement that they were free to use the streets. Then they drove to her place together.

“Do you mind waiting outside while I pack? Maybe go get some joulka? I’m kind of embarrassed at the state of the place. My father made a mess of it, and I got sick of cleaning up after him, so it’s a pigsty in there.”

Grogen didn’t care how messy it was but offered a compromise: if her sire was home, Grogen was going in there with her, no argument. If not, he’d wait outside, and she’d call him if the deadbeat showed up. As it turned out, her sire was not home, so Grogen waited just outside the building until she was ready.

Her temporary home was one tunnel closer to the shop and to him. He helped her move everything over, and despite it being hard work, they were both enjoying themselves so much that it went by quickly. The sun was setting by the time they were done.

“Thank you so much for helping me move. See you tomorrow at the baths.”

Here it was: he had to let her down gently to give himself time. If he saw her again tomorrow at the celebrations, he was certain she’d give him the azak flower, and he would take her home. He knew without a doubt that the bond would solidify then. And if she didn’t love him back—and she couldn’t, it was far too soon for humans—it would destroy him.

“I’m sorry, but I changed my mind. I thought I could, but there are too many people.” He glanced out into the bustling streets.

Abby looked so hurt that he wanted to pull her into his arms and tell her that he was only giving himself enough time to delay the bond.

“I’m not rejecting you, I promise. I would join you if I could, but I just…can’t.” It sounded dumb and hollow even to him. He wanted to kick himself.

“It’s okay, I get it. The celebrations are crowded, and social anxiety is a thing. Maybe we can do something another time when the whole colony isn’t going to be there?” she asked hopefully.

He relaxed and smiled. “That sounds perfect.” It would give him time to calm down, and it also showed her that he wasn’t deserting her.

But he couldn’t miss her obvious disappointment when they said goodbye and the door closed, leaving him alone.