15. Duty and Honor

FIFTEEN

DUTY AND HONOR

Naomi

The steady rocking and warmth at Naomi's back was soothing. A drop of water splattered on her forehead, popping the wonderful bubble she was drifting in. Her eyes flew open. She'd passed out from the most wonderful sex ever. Her gaze darted up to find Faktil smiling down at her. That's when she realized he was carrying her.

"Greetings, lovely Blossom." His smile broadened, showing off those cute dimples in his cheeks and a bit of fang.

She couldn't help but grin back at him until she noticed the trees overhead and the flat terrain. They weren't by the crater lake anymore. They weren't even on the hilly path by the creek that led up to the crater. They were already on the trail going through the forest back to the cabin.

"I can't believe I was out of it that long!" She squirmed to get down.

"Relax, I've enjoyed carrying you." His gaze raked over her, his brows wagging as his arms possessively tightened beneath her back and legs.

That's when it occurred to her she was still naked.

"Faktil!" she chided him as she followed his gaze to her bare breasts.

She actually didn't mind him ogling her and being held by the big, strong man was very nice, but it couldn't have been easy lugging her all this way.

"Very well," he chuckled.

As he set her down, something bumped against her. It was the water jugs. He'd filled them and had two dangling from the crook of each elbow.

"Oh, apologies." Faktil cringed.

"Don't. I'm sorry. I'm the one just dozing while you were doing all the heavy lifting." She gregariously gestured at the water jugs.

To add insult to injury, Faktil's tail extended toward her with her clothes gripped in its prehensile tip.

"Mahalo," she incredulously murmured as she took them.

"You were not a burden. I would've let you sleep, but the sky darkened and it looked like rain," the sweet man explained.

They'd apparently reached the thick growth before it rained, otherwise she would've felt more than a few drops.

"Yeah. It's not uncommon to get a little sprinkle once a day. It looks like it's passed." She pulled on her bikini tank top followed by the matching green panties. "You could've woken me to help you."

"I figured you needed your sleep." Faktil's smile turned rotten.

He was implying that he wore her out entirely. He wasn't wrong. A blush heated her cheeks as she recalled him biting and fucking her while his tail went exploring. The orgasm had been intense, but that wasn't the only reason she'd passed out afterwards. A deep sense of relief and connectedness that she hadn't felt in a long time, if ever, washed over her. She'd blissfully fallen asleep to bask in all the sensations. Regardless of that fact, she wasn't able to let the rotten man get away with his comment.

"I have been rather tired lately. You wouldn't believe the tedious company I've had visiting my little piece of paradise," she teased as she finished pulling on her clothes.

Faktil's jaw dropped in mock offense. "Next time, I will wake you, by picking you up and tossing you in the lake," he informed her, while a suppressed smile tugged at his lips.

Naomi loved this banter. "And what makes you think there will be a next time?" she countered.

Faktil's eyes flared. Her teasing comment had hit its mark. His gaze then narrowed on her. His tail shot out, hooked around her waist and tugged her up against him. She planted her hands on his muscular chest, unable to look away as he leaned down.

"You are my mate now. That's what makes me certain there will be a next time," he informed her an inch from her face.

Her tummy did a little somersault at the reminder, not that she could forget being married to the gorgeous alien man.

"Oh, well I guess that's a good reason then." She planted her lips against his.

"Mmm," Faktil groaned, deepening the kiss.

He attempted to wrap his arms around her, then remembered the jugs hanging on his arms. He pulled away and glared at the meddlesome burden.

"Oh no," she giggled.

It was probably best that they halt things right there. Her lady bits were more than a little sore as they attempted to shrink back down to a normal size.

"Want help?" She gestured to the full containers.

"No, thank you, Blossom." He then frowned. "I forgot the poles up at the crater."

"It's just bamboo I cut down. I have a few more in the shed." She rubbed his arm as they again started down the path.

"Ah. Good." He nodded. "The blockage is clear and the creek is flowing again."

"Oh good." She then smirked. "I was asleep so long you were able to clear the rest of the blockage?" she asked in disbelief.

"No," he chuckled. "Before you came to help me," he said, his voice thick with sarcasm, "I must've pulled enough of the large limbs out that it worked itself loose."

She hadn't helped a damn bit, instead distracting him with sex. Her mouth dropped open at his taunt, then she glanced sideways at the rotten man.

"What was that about my help ?" Her brow rose, daring him to say something more.

Faktil's eyes widened, his tail stiffening slightly, though she didn't entirely believe she worried him.

"You were a great help," he amended and there was a twinkle in his dark eyes.

"Oh really. Exactly how did I help?" she asked, eager to see what he came up with, while suppressing a smile.

A rakish grin spread across his face. "I would've pointlessly worked to remove the blockage when I had more important work to do." He stuck his inhumanly long tongue out, swiping it upward as he glanced toward her crotch.

Naomi choked as a surprised laugh burst out of her mouth .

"Stick that tongue back in your head. You're trouble and a rotten flirt!" she laughed at him once she caught her breath.

"Was I wrong?" he innocently asked.

Meanwhile, his tail tickled the small of her back as it attempted to snake up the back of her shirt.

"No. You're not wrong, but you're still trouble and a rotten flirt, especially this appendage." She reached back and tugged his tail.

Faktil's playful smile turned predatory and his eyes darkened. "Have I told you what doing that means among our kind?"

A chill ran up her spine, her nipples hardened, and her pussy fluttered at the sexy, rough shift in his voice.

"No." She shook her head.

"What do you think it would mean if you tugged on my forward tail?" His brow arched as he invaded her space a little more.

It took her a second to figure out he was referring to his cock, but when she did she blushed.

Oh. Her thoughts circled back to when she'd found Faktil hurt on the steps and grabbed his tail as he crawled inside. No wonder he looked at me funny!

"Well," Naomi considered her response carefully.

She enjoyed taunting Faktil and he did a great job giving it back. Was she crossing the line with what she was about to do? Was she willing to accept the consequences?

Yes, she decided.

"Well, your tail started it." She gave his tail another yank, then with a cheeky smile turned and took off running.

The growl behind her and the pounding footsteps that followed didn't surprise her. Giddily, she squealed and ran faster .

Faktil quo Laus

The instant his new mate ran giggling down the path, Faktil took chase. Animalistic need drove him, his instinct demanding he not let her get away. But when they reached the cabin, his emotions had shifted. There was pure joy in Naomi's laugh, and he hadn't felt this elated or free in a long time. He was somehow a youth again, playing chase, without the weight of the world on his shoulders.

As Naomi darted toward the cabin, he dropped the water jugs and lunged, capturing her around the waist. Naomi squealed in surprise and amusement as he quickly rolled them, so he landed on his back, with her on his chest.

"Trouble, just like I said," she giggled.

"Asbjorn would agree with you," he chuckled, his arms banding around her so she couldn't get away again.

Naomi propped her chin on her hands as she lay sprawled atop him.

"Your older sister." She nodded, recalling his sister.

His grin broadened at the memory their game resurrected.

"She thought it was unfair that I always caught her. She was older so she thought that meant she should be better at seek. Except, my second sire was teaching me to track game," he chuckled.

"Oh, so you had an unfair advantage." She poked his chest. "Trouble, just like I said."

He burst out laughing. "That's about what Asbjorn said when she learned I was tracking her steps when she hid," he choked out a laugh.

"I look forward to meeting her. I bet we're going to get along perfectly." Naomi grinned.

"You will," he agreed then grew somber as something occurred to him. "Are you sure you will be all right returning with me to Cadi?" His chest tightened as he asked the question. "My sisters are all I have, so I know how much your clan means to you and how much you miss them. I would stay on your planet if I could." His heart broke at the notion that he was coming between Naomi and her clan, at the same time he feared she would change her mind about being bonded to him.

Naomi gave him a doleful smile. "I would like to see them again. And I'm sure if there's a way to do that, you'll make it happen." She kissed the middle of his chest.

She was right. He would move mountains to make Naomi happy. Hell, he'd move whole planets.

Naomi's expression shifted to playful again. "Now that you've caught me, what exactly are your plans?" She looked expectantly at him.

"Hmm." He rubbed his chin. "I suppose I should demand some sort of prize."

"I am a prize," Naomi informed him, her gaze pinning him, challenging him to say otherwise.

"That you are," he readily agreed with a chuckle. "What would you suggest?"

"How about dinner?" she offered.

He pretended to consider her offer for a moment.

"And if you're good, something sweet for dessert later." Naomi gave him a wink, hinting that she wasn't referring to food at all.

"I accept," he said with an approving growl as he sat up.

"Smart man." Naomi leaned up and gave him a quick kiss.

His arms tightened around her, refusing to let her go. He couldn't believe he'd found a female that responded to his mating serum. He was actually holding his mate, and it was Naomi, a brave, spirited, gorgeous little human. To think he'd attempted to resist her allure. He never had a chance.

Naomi

"It's wild that you have to go through a wormhole to get to your planet. What's it like there?" Naomi asked as she grabbed Faktil's empty plate.

He'd polished off everything she put in front of him, and would probably eat more if she offered it. She needed to remember to quadruple what she usually made.

Gotta keep my man satisfied. She grinned.

"It's a bit larger, with two main land masses. The biggest noticeable difference is the sky. It's a violet color," he explained.

"Ooh purple. That sounds lovely."

"It is, but I think your sky is impressive." He gazed up, admiring the wispy clouds overhead. "The climate is temperate on Cadi. We don't have a freezing season like you do here."

"I'm okay with that." Naomi nodded. She'd visited Colorado to go skiing once, and after a day in the snow she was done.

"There are regions on Cadi that look a lot like this." Faktil waved to the surrounding tropical forest. "Of course, the plants and animals are different, but nature recycles elements and shapes. For example, things that swim in water are sleek and have fins on my world the same as yours."

"Like the swirl of a hurricane is similar to the swirl of a galaxy," Naomi commented. It wasn't the best comparison, but that's what popped into her head.

"Aye, very much like that." Faktil nodded. "My sister and I were born in an area not too different from this. There was no ocean, but more rivers and marshes. When we fled, we went through a rocky mountainous area that was dry, though not exactly like your deserts, and ended up in a hilly verdant region, the Sargon Province."

The wistful expression on Faktil's face as he compared the island to his home tugged at her heart. He then spoke of fleeing his home and it brought tears to her eyes.

"Let's get cleaned up before it gets dark. I also had an idea about the bed." Faktil abruptly changed the subject as he stood.

"Oh, okay." She rubbed her eyes, quickly dispelling any moisture that was there.

Faktil took the dishes from her and went to wash them as she banked the campfire and tended to the food on the drying rack.

"Thank you for a wonderful meal," Faktil commented with an armful of clean dishes as they went inside the cabin.

"You're welcome. Thanks for doing the cleanup." She flipped on the overhead light. "So, what was your idea about the bed?"

"Well…" Faktil said thoughtfully, a rotten grin transforming his face as he looked her up and down.

She laughed at him and shook her head. "Did you really have an idea, or was your idea just to climb in bed?" she snorted.

"Oh!" His eyes widened as if that were a novel idea.

She giggled and swatted his arm.

"How fond are you of the metal frame?" he asked once he stopped chuckling.

"I see what you're suggesting. The bedframe can go." She nodded in approval. "There's room in the shed. Do you think we need to take it apart first?"

There was no way Faktil could fit on the bed. He was much too tall. The poor guy had to duck just coming in the front door.

Faktil surveyed the bed and then the door. "I think it will fit."

"That's what she said," Naomi couldn't help reply with a little giggle.

"What?" Faktil tilted his head in confusion.

"Never mind, it's a dumb joke." She shook her head and started stripping the bedding.

Once she had the linens removed, Faktil pulled the mattress off and set it on the floor. He tipped the bedframe on its side and lifted it with ease.

"I was going to offer to get one end but you've got it," she commented, utterly impressed.

"The metal is hollow. Balancing it is more complicated than anything," he said as he adjusted his hold.

"Oh, okay." She rushed ahead of him and opened the door.

With a little finagling, Faktil got the headboard portion through the door. The rest was almost through when Faktil dropped the bedframe, startling her. He burst out laughing, startling her further.

"That's what she said," he snorted, repeating her earlier joke.

"Did you just figure that one out?" She grinned at him.

"I did. You have a perverse sense of humor," he chuckled as he picked up the bed and continued walking.

She wagged her brows at him as she opened the shed.

"Thank you." He nodded to her as he entered. "Does over here work?" He headed toward the empty corner.

"That looks good."

Faktil set the bed down and they headed back out of the shed. Another question popped into her head as they walked .

"So, when we return to your world, what will I be doing? I've worked since college and for the last year I've done this. What opportunities are there for me to help support us?" she asked.

She had no clue what the Cadi economy was like, but putting food in another mouth and a roof over her head wasn't free, even if the economic structure was entirely different from what she understood.

Faktil paused on the porch and looked at her. "That is a good question. It's not the way it used to be. Females tended to work in their clan businesses until they had young. However, now that the war is over, it is a great time of change. I would still like to be a pilot and run off-world missions."

"Oh." Her brow furrowed.

"That's worry." He used his finger to physically trace the crease between her brows. "What is causing the worry? Please tell me your thoughts," he urged.

"Well, I guess it sounds like I'd be left at home on a strange planet while you're off saving worlds." She grimaced as she voiced her concern.

"No. The Osivoire have clan ships and we are working toward modeling some of them. The vocations on a ship may not be as numerous as on Cadi, but there are still needs for civilians."

"Oh." She smiled. "Sorry. I guess I jumped to a conclusion."

"Do not apologize." His tail coiled around her waist, tugging her closer. "I am sure we will have many misunderstandings. Just know I want your happiness." The smile he gave her was genuine and sweet.

She smiled. "You are nothing like my ex," she chuckled. "Chad wanted to fight about all the little stuff, but was non- confrontational about the important things. Like the fact that he felt neglected because I worked so much. So, he waited until I was at a mandatory out of town meeting and moved out of our apartment. The fucker practically emptied the apartment. In retrospect it was a blessing, but what a dick." She shook her head.

Faktil made a deep, scary sound that had her eyes widening.

"This was the male you were testing compatibility with?" he asked, his voice still frighteningly deep.

"Yes." She nodded. That was a good description for it.

"That's what you meant by cleaned out. The coward waited until you were gone to sever ties, then took items from your home?" His voice took on an almost incoherent growl.

"Yes. He left my clothes, the dishes, some linens, and stuff, but yeah. He took the couch, the bed, and entertainment system. I bet he would've taken my laptop if I didn't bring it on the trip." She shook her head in disgust. "I called the cops, thinking we were robbed, since he didn't answer when I called him. Then I got his text message. Fucker!" she spat.

"Yes, fucker!" Faktil snarled. "It is the female's home. A male doesn't take her things." He shook his head in disgust. "I would like to find this coward."

She grinned. She'd never swooned over the protective vengeful type, however, Faktil made it look very attractive.

"Thank you." She rubbed his arm, and Faktil's stiff trembling bicep eased beneath her palm. "What's worse, a part of me thought he was justified. It wasn't a big part of me, but a part. I was working all the time to get a promotion that never happened. I chose work instead of my ‘ ohana . But that didn't excuse what he did, and no one would have enough free time to cater to that dude's ego."

"Perhaps when we get off this island, I will assure no other female is subjected to the dishonorable, selfish, thieving coward," Faktil snapped.

She snorted, imagining Chad pissing himself as an enraged Faktil came charging toward him.

"Tempting, but probably not a good idea." She leaned forward and kissed his chest. "Thank you, though."

Damn, he was sexy as hell. All the barely leashed power beneath her palms had her heartbeat kicking up while she replayed their time by the lake. She didn't think she'd be interested so soon, and yet her thoughts kept drifting to sex.

Suddenly something occurred to her. Her hand froze on his biceps, fear gripping her tight.

"What is wrong?" Faktil's expression twisted with concern.

"If my people come to rescue us first, you have to hide. My people aren't used to alien life, like you are."

It made her sick, imagining what could happen to Faktil. Surprisingly a smile spread across Faktil's face and his arms tightened, pulling her closer.

"Blossom, don't worry. Remember, I have completed another mission on your world. I know the risk." He gently rubbed her back.

"Oh yeah." She relaxed. "We should still come up with a plan in case that happens. After a year went by, I sorta gave up hope that anyone from the department of natural resources or one of the universities would come here. But someone set all of this up and I can't imagine they'd just abandon it forever. It's always possible they only come every two to three years." She shrugged.

"We will come up with a plan. Though, for tonight, we will forget other humans exist, especially Chad," Faktil snarled his name, then swiftly scooped her up and entered the cabin .

"Oh, sweetheart, it's already forgotten. In fact, what were we talking about?" She grinned as she soothingly stroked his bare chest.

"We were discussing how I will make sure you are more than eager to leave your daily duties to come home every evening." Faktil kicked the door closed as his lips descended on hers.

"Mmm," she moaned. Yes! That must've been what they were discussing.

Faktil quo Laus

Faktil wanted to prolong their kiss. He couldn't get enough of the human custom. Naomi's former consort was an absolute imbecile to have given up such a treasure. With a groan, he parted from Naomi and set her down.

"We need to remake the bed." As he said the words, his disappointment abated and a grin spread across his face. Naomi was his mate, so he would get to kiss and share a bed with her for the rest of his days.

"That sounds like a plan, and then we can finish our discussion." Naomi winked at him.

He positioned the mattress in the corner where the bed had been, then Naomi reset the bedding. He chuckled as she flopped down on the mattress and patted the spot beside her.

"Are you planning to go to bed with all of your clothing on?" His brow arched quizzically.

"Oh, so we have a new rule as a couple, no clothes at bedtime?" she suggested as she started pulling her clothes off.

"I like this rule." He tugged off his vestment and hunkered down beside her.

"Another rule should be that we don't go to bed mad," she suggested, snuggling up against him .

He wrapped his arm around her and palmed her rear. "Agreed." He gave her cute tailless behind a squeeze.

Naomi grinned at him. He turned thoughtful as he looked into her big brown eyes.

"I never want to hurt you, but I probably will. We're different, and will have misunderstandings." He frowned, already feeling remorse for mistakes he hadn't made yet.

"I know. I feel the same. If I ever make you feel neglected, please tell me." Fear and worry entered her eyes.

"You never need to worry. After the raid in Kinsha, we had to flee the border town. Taking care of my sisters on the long trek into safe territory was hard. I was often gone for days hunting enough to feed us and trade. Believe me, Blossom, I understand hard work. Surviving and trying to make a future for your clan isn't always easy. I fear I'll be the one to drive you away by working too hard."

Naomi's warm brown eyes filled with sympathy and affection as she stroked his cheek. "Oh, handsome, I love you."

Faktil's heart stopped midbeat. "You love me?" he managed to say past the lump in his throat.

"Yeah, I do. And I'm going to make sure you are more than eager to leave your duties to come home to me every day," she repeated the promise he'd given her earlier.

"Oh, Blossom, I love you, too." His lips descended on hers.