Chapter 11

chapter

eleven

KAEL

By the time evening rolls around, I am more than eager to see my mate again. My be'lahshuk. My Minka.

The idea of her so close, but without me by her side, makes me anxious in a way I can't explain. I want her with me. I want her away from the dangers of this relatively primitive planet.

The Adjunct and I spent the afternoon reviewing the scans from the satellites. The results are promising. There are definitely other people or artifacts from Perse scattered around on earth. We'll wait until Cass can help decode the information before we dig any deeper.

If nothing else, the work is a reminder that this isn't only about me claiming my own mate. The bond between Joey and I is bigger than mere sex. More important than just the two of us.

I keep that in mind as I walk into the diner at exactly six o'clock for my "date" with Joey.

Lorraine's behind the counter talking to a customer. She gives me a wink and beckons me forward.

"She went home to change clothes. She should be back in a few."

I scowl, but before I can say anything, she waves her hand dismissively.

"And before you go fussing at either of us, she didn't go back to her place. She went back to mine just in case that horse's ass Brandon is still lurking around. My Barry came and picked her up about an hour ago, and he's going to drop her back here as soon as she's ready."

I nod and sit. Lorraine pours me coffee, and I once again think that this might be the very best thing about this planet. I should find out if we can get this stuff back on Perse.

Fifteen minutes pass, and my stomach tightens. What if she's changed her mind? I need her soon. For so many reasons.

The bell above the door rings, and I spin around on my stool. There she is.

Relief floods me at the sight of her. She's here. Finally. And now that she is, I'm not sure I will ever let her out of my sight.

She isn't in her usual uniform, but rather leggings of a thick blue fabric. They hug her curves, accenting the indention of her waist and the roundness of her hips and ass. Her tunic isn't particularly revealing, but it hints at her breasts, and my cock lengthens against my thigh at the thought of them and the memory of how she tasted on my lips.

I've never reacted to another female the way I do to my Joey.

I step forward, never taking my eyes off of her. "You look beautiful."

She gives me a shy smile and the amber of her eyes warms. That look on her face, both playful and seductive, pulls at something deep inside of me, something I didn't even know existed until this moment. "Thanks."

I have to swallow before I ask, "Ready?"

She nods.

I wrap my arm around her waist and lead her back outside.

As we approach my Harley, she slants me a look shaking her head. "Such a cliche."

"What?" I ask. "Is this motorcycle not an acceptable vehicle?"

She bumps her shoulder against mine playfully. "A Harley is right out of the bad boy playbook. It's not just acceptable; it's practically mandatory."

Despite her teasing tone, something about her words worries me.

I turn to her, cupping my hands on her shoulders. "I am not a bad man, Joey Kincaid."

Her teasing smile turns into a full grin as she chuckles. The sound tightens my groin, and I'm hit with the almost irritable urge to cup her jaw line, to press my blossoming marks against hers. To deepen the bond between us and mark us both.

Before I can, she steps away, shaking her head again, clearly bemused. "Nope, not a bad man. A bad boy. It's something else entirely. Seriously, where did you learn English again?"

I think back to the book Lorraine loaned me and remember that the heroine of the novel had used the term "bad boy" as a compliment.

I pick up the helmet and hand it to her. "Ah. I understand the difference. But what is this playbook you think I have."

She takes the helmet with a frown. "You only have one helmet? You don't have one for yourself?"

"I don't."

"And you didn't have one last night either."

"Last night I didn't expect you to ride on my Harley. I procured a helmet for you today."

She tries to press the helmet back into my hands, but I take it from her and place it on her head, adjusting the straps and clicking it under her chin.

"The helmet is for you." I don't tell her that—already—my life has no value without hers. "Besides, the journey is not long."

I climb on the motorcycle, and she climbs on behind me. Sliding right against me so that her thighs grip my ass. Her full tits press into my back, and my dick hardens even more. Frack. I want to sink myself inside her.

I'd spent some time this afternoon driving the motorcycle around town. Even after the time in the HSC, I had felt like I needed several hours on the motorcycle by myself before I was comfortable having Joey on the bike with me.

Now, I am glad I did. Riding the motorcycle is quite enjoyable. The thrum of the engine combined with Joey's body pressed against mine is exhilarating.

I steer the motorcycle down the now familiar streets to the RV park. The shuttle's viz emitters haven't wavered in the time I've been here, so I'm not too concerned that Joey will even notice she's boarding a spaceship.

I try not to let it bother me that I have to even think about that. She is from the stars. An heiress to an advanced and technologically superior world. I shouldn't have to hide this from her.

Still, I don't want to frighten her. Once we reach Perse, surely some earlier memories will surface. At the very least, by then it will be too late for her to return to Earth.

I pull the Harley around to the back of the shuttle, turn it off, and hold out a hand to help her climb down before climbing off myself.

She unlatches the helmet and holds it in her hands as she looks at the Winnebago.

Something like disappointment flickers across her face.

Obviously, the cloaking image I selected is not a popular one. The other RVs in the park look much nicer. But it's not like I could have changed the image to match one of those once I arrived. Still, I hate that she seems disappointed in my living quarters.

I hate even more how easily she shakes off that disappointment. As if she's used to making due with less than she deserves.

Someday, I will shower her with the riches and luxuries a princess of Perse deserves.

Still, I like how quickly her frown turns into a smile. "So … this is where you live?"

"For now."

"It's a mustard yellow—" She tips her head to see the brand name the cloaking illusion has scrawled on the shuttle. "—Chieftain Winnebago."

I don't want to lie outright, so I clear my throat as I place my hand at the small of her waist and guide her towards the steps. "Indeed."

"This looks like it's in pristine condition. Like it came right out of the seventies. Where did you even get this?"

Frack if I know how to answer any of these questions. So, I turn her gently towards me and press a kiss to her lips as I back her toward the RV. "Do you really want to discuss my recreational vehicle, or should I feed you first?"

"We're eating here?"

"Yes."

Having read the novel Lorraine gave me, I know more about the mating rituals of this world. Food is an important element. But I have no desire to sit in public while feeding my mate. I want her alone.

Inside the shuttle there's a short hall, with crew quarters on either side, that leads straight into the main cabin, which houses the HSC, food replicators, and entertainment unit.

Joey's steps slow as I lead her down the hall, and I tighten my grip on her hand.

She trails her fingers along the smooth white walls, frowning just a little. She stops just inside the common area and her hand slips from mine as she takes in the room.

There aren't holo-projectors inside the shuttle—other than the ones in the entertainment unit, obviously. So, the interior of the shuttle appears exactly as it is. The walls and storage cabinets are surfaced in smooth white panels. The furniture covered in plush fabric the color of the pale green sand of an Atillian beach. The ceiling painted the deep lavender of the Pers?n sky at sunset.

The shuttle was military grade and utilitarian, but it was constructed during the height of the Empire as a transport for royalty. Pers?ns liked their creature comforts.

"This place is amazing," Joey murmurs. She turns in a circle, taking in the room. "This can't be a standard Winnebago."

I've never seen the inside of a standard Winnebago, so I have no idea. "I had some custom work done on it."

"Some work?" she gives a laugh tinged with disbelief. "Some? How did they make it seem so much bigger on the inside?"

She walks around the room—which isn't big, but still must be bigger than an actual Winnebago. After all, the holo-illusions make the shuttle appear a fraction of its actual size.

I pull the food out of the replicator and set it on the dining table. I had programmed it before I had left to pick her up, and I'm pleased that the food is warm and smells edible.

As I place the food in front of her, her wide green eyes widen before she smiles up at me. "Very high brow."

"It is a cheeseburger," I tell her. "And frenched [JS1] fries. I was told it was very popular here."

I had replicated the traditional eating utensils they used at the diner, but she ignores them and picks the bread-covered meat up in her hands.

My cock hardens at the sight of her lips closing over her food. Her eyes flicker closed as she chews.

This planet may be primitive, but the tradition of feeding one's mate has merits.

When she realizes I'm watching her, she gives me a shy smile. "It's very good." Then she frowns slightly. "Don't they have burgers where you're from?"

"No."

"Where did you say you were from?" she asked.

"Perse."

Her head tilts ever so slightly. "Is that like in Norway or something?"

I smile, despite the twinge of frustration her question brings. "Something like that." She shouldn't have to ask about Perse. She should know every detail of Pers?n culture and life. I turn from my dark thoughts and say, "Tell me about your schooling."

"It's not very interesting, just a bookkeeping program."

"Ah …" I nod, but it takes me a moment to search for the words. "A librarian."

She giggles. "No. Bookkeeping. Accounting. Taxes. That kind of thing."

"But is a librarian not one who curates and keeps books?"

She bobs her head a little while she chews. "Different kind of books." She dabs at her lips with a napkin. "Don't get me wrong. I love to read. Being a librarian would be a dream job. Especially a children's librarian. And if I thought I could make as much money doing that as I can as a CPA…" She gives her head a shake that seems a little sad, but also full of resolve. "But I'm not waitressing at Big Moe's for the rest of my life. I'm hoping to get a job at a small business or company to handle their books, payroll, that sort of thing."

"But it's not something you love to do?"

"No, not particularly. But it will pay the bills. I'll be able to support myself. No matter what. All on my own."

"What does Joey love to do?"

She bites down on her full bottom lip, making me want to do the same. "I really love children and wish I could work with them in some way. Be a teacher or mentor or something. But that requires a lot more schooling, and I don't have the money for that. At least not right now."

There are plenty of children on Nerida that she can instruct. I don't know what she could teach them, but it pleases me to imagine she will find purpose on Nerida.

We finish our dinner, then I bring out the dessert. Everything I had read indicated that humans favored having something sweet at the end of their meals. It all seemed very unnecessary to me. I have other things I'm interested in eating. But I'm determined to do this right.

"Oh, what's all this?" she asks.

"Something called brownies."

She closes her eyes and inhales. "Ohmygod, that smells amazing. I love chocolate." She gives me a shy smile. "You didn't have to do all of this; go to all this trouble."

"You're worth it. Also, it wasn't any trouble. You can order any kind of food."

She laughs and the rich sound rumbles through me. I pick up a piece of the brownie and bring it to her lips, prodding her to take a bite. She does, then moans as her lips close around the chocolate. I feed her two more bites, my cock getting harder with every tiny moan and flicker from her tongue. She is beyond tempting.

"You're not going to taste it?" she asks.

So I lean down and press my mouth to hers, sweeping my tongue inside. Sweet, rich, and decadent—that's Joey's flavor even without the brownie. I pull her to me, setting her on my lap, her legs on either side of my hips.

"I'm too heavy."

"Too heavy for what?"

"To sit on you."

"You are perfect for sitting on me." I kiss her again, our tongues mating together. I'm so hard, so ready to be inside my sweet Minka. I pull the hem of her shirt up and over her head, leaving her exposed in front of me wearing something lacy across her breasts. I lean forward and suck a nipple into my mouth through the fabric, and she arches into me, crying out.

I do the same to her other breast and finally get impatient. I don't know how to remove the contraption, so I simply grab the thing in the middle and pull, tearing it in half.

"Oh shit, that was hot," Joey murmurs.

Hot is good. I knew that from reading the book Lorraine had given me. "You are hot," I tell her while letting my gaze take in the full glory of her naked breasts. Pale skin with pink tips. Her skin is dotted with faint markings. They are scattered over her chest and arms—everywhere the sun would touch—and I've never seen anything like them. They aren't the darker mating marks a woman of her status bears on her neck. They are something else. Beautiful beyond compare. And I love watching her flesh grow flushed and warm.

I continue to feast on her breasts while I work on the fastenings on her pants. One button and then the crude sound of her zipper. I release her nipple with a pop and then stand, lifting her off my lap and setting her on the floor in front of me. I remove her pants, slowly sliding them down her legs.

I'd seen her legs before, of course, because her diner uniform has a short skirt, and the dress she wore yesterday left her legs bare. But this? This feels like unwrapping the very best present. Instead of the white undergarments she'd had on earlier, she now wears a matching lace bottom. I pick her up and set her on the table, then stand to kiss her.

Her tongue sweeps through my mouth making my cock even harder. I reach down and unfastened my trousers to give my growing member more room. Gently, I push her back so that she lies on the table before me. A buffet of pleasures and temptations just for me.

The pink stains beneath both of her ears have darkened and I glance briefly at my wrists to see that my marks have done the same. An unfamiliar sensation squeezes at my heart. Pride. Power. Excitement beyond anything I've felt in my life.

This is my mate. My Minka.

I growl, then grab her breasts, plucking at the nipples and gently squeezing the fleshy orbs.

"I want to fuck you," I whisper.

"Yes. Do that," she says, her words coming on a pant.

I do the same to her underbottoms as I'd done to the covering at her breasts, rending the lacy material in half.

Her eyes darken, her pupils eating up the amber of her irises.

The scent of her arousal hits me with such longing that I lean forward and lick her entire slit. Tides, she's delicious. I could eat her this way every day for the rest of my life and never grow tired of her scent, her taste. And those sexy as fuck noises she makes.

Again, she grips my hair and holds me in place, and I smile against her cunt. My Minka likes my mouth on her. Tonight I'll make her come so many times she'll lose count.

I must have said those words out loud because she leans up and looks at me with a dreamy expression. "Where did you come from?" she asks.

But I don't answer, just keep my mouth on her, licking and nibbling and sucking.

"Please fuck me," she says, her voice breathless.

"I want you to come like this first, Minka. But I can give you my fingers now. Then you will have my cock."

"Yes, all of that. Do all of that. Just make me come."

I chuckle. "I love that you're impatient, my mate." I slide first one finger and then a second into her tight, slick channel, then curve my fingers to rub against that slightly rough patch of nerves on her front wall. She bucks against me, letting me know I'd found her pleasure spot. Then I suck her little bud into my mouth while I fuck her with my fingers. Her fingers tighten in my hair, and she holds my face to her while she rides me to her climax.

"Kael!" She yells as the pleasure rolls through her. Again and again.