Chapter 39

Raya and Onyx are both standing beside me, watching the shuttle leave, and once it's gone. I am at a loss as to what to do next. We have been fighting for so long, I never imagined a life afterwards. "Onyx, how is your friend?"

"Father, he seems to be in good spirits, things are not as dour as he first believed when he was brought in. He has asked to speak to you."

"I will wait for Tessa to regain her strength before I do. I know she will want to check on him as well. So, do you guys have any idea what we are supposed to do now?"

Rayawas the first to speak up. "Father, I for one am planning on sleeping an entire Orbital rotation. I have been tired for so long. I don't know what it would feel like to be rested. Zura is going to mention me to her mother and if I can get a sponsor. I was hoping I could represent our people during the Warrior trials with your approval."

Ipull her towards me, hugging her close. "No, father could be prouder. If this is something you want to do, Raya. You have my full support." She unwinds herself, but not before I see a single tear on her cheek. I know that's the only emotion she will allow me to see, but it's good that all of this has not hardened her heart nor taken away her dreams. Onyx and I watch her stroll away.

"What about you?"

"I think I will spend the rest of this rising drinking spirits with my friends, then I might take a few rotations off. There is a hot little ValerianI would like to visit at the PleasurePlanet. WhenI get back, I have a couple ideas on some new training techniques our people need to learn. We have some catching up to do, but I plan on standing at your side while we do it. What about you, Father?"

Ilook up, knowing Tessa is just above me in my dwelling. "Oh, I am sure I can think of a few things. Go enjoy yourself, son, I sure plan to. Onyx, if you are attached to the female, take her out of that place and bring her home. At one time, I also cared for one that was located there. I failed her when I had the power to get her out, because I was too worried about what others would think. If you are concerned about your people accepting an outsider, don't. I will stand with your decision and your happiness."

"Thank you, Father. This gives me much to think about."

WhenOnyx leaves, I find myself standing in the shuttle bay alone. A tugging feeling has my feet moving and with a smile on my face, I head towards my awakening mate. I don't even remember getting there, but I find myself standing over Tessa just as she opens her eyes. When she stretches out, my eyes devour every piece of skin showing.

"Well, hello handsome, what brings you here?"

"My heart has been stolen, and I thought it might be possible to regain it if I come.

"Nope, once it's gone, there are no givebacks. Looks like you're gonna be stuck with whoever stole it. Do you know what they look like, maybe I could be on the lookout."

"How do you describe perfection?"

"Damn, do you have this shit written down somewhere? You had me at hello, ok? I'm yours; hook, line, and sinker."

Ican't help but smile, "I still think we are in need of an interpreter. Where is your shadow?"

"Wynd? Zllera came and got her a little while ago. She apparently has classes. Don't you think she is kinda little to already be going to school?"

"I have no idea. The females have always handled all of that. Mother didn't send me with the others, so that is a question I simply can't answer. If you are feeling up to it, I was going to go see how Taze is doing."

"Let me take a quick, weird shower thing and get dressed. I feel sticky all over."

"Do you need some help? Don't give me that look. I am being sincere here. Yes, I'll take any reason to get my hands on you, but I was going to try and behave. After all, you are still recovering."

"Well, ZoD, I would have said I might need help washing my back, but we don't have any damn water. I don't know how that would work out in that phone booth shower mist thing in the bathroom, but I am open to ideas."

Shedoesn't make it two steps that I grab her up in my arms, swinging her around. Her laughter is like a lightning bolt shooting through my body. To be able to feel her happiness is the most fulfilling thing I have ever known. Balancing her on my knee I slip the gown the med bots put on her off, only to stop dead when I see her naked before me. "Lord of Light, look at you. I saw the mark on your face, but with everything that has been going on, I missed all of these."

"Are they ugly? The one on my face was just forming when we were taken."

"Amori, I can't wait to trace every one of these with my tongue."

"CanI have a bath first, please? I know I am cleaner than I was, but I still feel like I have worm all over me."

"What would you give a male for a proper bath?"

"Name it, stud."

Ihit a button on the side of the wall and the Ionizer folds in, just as a large round tub emerges out of the floor, filled with steaming hot water.

"Ok, it's official, I am in love. This is proof if you ask, you shall receive. You know, I think this thing looks big enough for two and I just might be too weak to be in there unsupervised."

Ilower her into the water gently before quickly yanking all my garments off. Tessa slides over to the side and I get in slowly to keep from sloshing any of the water out. A sigh leaves both of our lips as the water encloses us completely. We sit in comfortable silence, both of us leaning back with our eyes closed, simply enjoying the peacefulness of this moment.

"I thought there wasn't enough water for real baths?"

"Technically, there isn't. All the water used in the compound is recycled and used over and over until gone. Now that we are no longer fighting for our lives, the first thing on my list is digging new wells, or even looking into the possibility of water containers being brought in. That reminds me, I need to ask DaR about the scan the Explorer did of our planet. It's hard to tell what that ship found from space."

"Ok, mister, this is a non-working environment. The moment your sexy ass sank into this tub there is only you and me, got it?"

"I like the way you think, Amori. I have never had a me and you before."

"Honestly, I haven't either. This is just as new to me as it is to you. These marks, what do they mean exactly?"

"The one on your face is the same as the one over my heart. I didn't realize that until I woke up with you this early rising. I was going to tell you that then, but with Wynd and all the females, there was just no time. You are my Soulkin, Tessa, what all that means? I am not completely sure, but I know the more time we are together the more I can feel you inside me. Several times when you were missing, I could have sworn you were right there only a few feet away. As comforting as it was, it was tearing me in two, knowing you were so close, but still so far away. We will figure it out as we go."

"It's funny as a kid, my mom would read me books and I was always fascinated with the very thought of having a soul mate. I used to tease some of my friends and tell them that mine probably walked right by me when I was having a bad day. But nope, mine was waiting in a land far, far away. Now that's a fairytale. Speaking of marks, you have several I would like to look at closer."

"DoI now? Well, I am yours to investigate at will." Tessa slides over and I wrap my arm around her. Pulling her up and across my chest, tucking her head under my chin. Her small frame settles comfortably over me as she straddles my waist. The second I feel the heat of her core I am hard. "Just ignore him, I can't help that my entire body craves you. Lord of Light you feel good in my arms. HowI have ever proved worthy of you I have no idea, but you are a blessing lined in soft satiny skin."

Tessaruns her fingers along the dark lines on my neck and down my chest. The movement of her long eyelashes on my skin tickles, but it's the feeling of her heart beating against mine that has me closing my eyes. Enjoying this rare moment of peace for both of us. I have no idea how long we lay here like that, but when I feel the water start to cool down. I move her off me and reach for the soap. "We shouldn't linger any longer. I don't want you getting sick on me because you got chilled."

"I wasn't chilled, you are like laying on a furnace, hand me the soap. I'll wash your back if you'll do mine."

Handingher the cloth, I lean forward and the moment I do I hear a gasp out of here. "Damnit, ZoD, this looks bad, did you have anyone look at this?"

"I was more concerned with you at the time. I did stop long enough to throw a healing patch on it. If it concerns you that badly, when we go check on Taze, I'll have the med bot look at it real quick."

"That's fine, because I was about to get real damn fussy. I would like to wash my hair before this water gets any cooler. Would you help me real quick? My arm is throbbing like crazy. I am not complaining. Their ability to expedite the healing process is something I'm extremely thankful for, as a fracture like this would have rendered me incapable for weeks if I was back home. I'll take the discomfort any day over that for sure."

"Amori, why don't you lay back and relax and I will do all the work?"

"You really are a male after my heart."

"Quit taking everything like that. Not all of my words are intended to be dirty."

"What, me? I am innocent. You're the one telling me to lie back and take it. Maybe you should give me that rag, if you wipe soap over that boob one more time, I will not be held responsible for my actions."

"There is just so much of you that I need to pay special attention to."

"Uhhh, huh, well, two of us can play this game, mister." She no longer says this to me then she reaches up where I am leaning over her and takes my shaft in her hand. I hiss out as she strokes me from the top all the way down slowly.

"Amori, behave yourself, you just got out of the med bay."

"Amori, Amori, one of these days you are going to tell me what that means. And you know ZoD, I have never been good at doing what I am told. One thing I have learned in the last couple of days is you can't take tomorrow for granted. If you want something or someone, you better get at it, and I want you. Now are you going to make me beg, or can I lay here and you do all the work?"

"I might enjoy hearing you beg, but I think I would rather put that mouth of yours to better use." I can feel her smile as I claim her lips as eagerly as I ache to claim the rest of her. WhenI tease my tongue across her plump lips, pulling her closer the sound of her moaning against me makes me realize there is no turning back. I know she is hurt and we shouldn't be doing this, but I have no willpower when it comes to her.

Idevour her like a male starved, my hands roam her soft skin, learning all the curves and dips as I go. Every time she shifts, my hard shaft rubs against her folds and I am having a hard time simply not taking my own pleasure as I thrust inside of her. My skin feels alive, and I swear I can feel my marks rippling as she runs her tiny fingers over my skin.

Releasingher lips, I lift her small frame up, bringing her delicious breast eye level. Her fingers sink into my hair as I rub my nose back and forth between her breasts, enjoying the silky feel of her skin on my face. WhenI run my thumbs across her sensitive nipples, she gasps. I can't help but smile when I roll them between my fingers and thumbs and she presses harder down upon my length, seeking her own release. I thrust up, just enough for my shafts head to enter her but hold her from going any lower.

Iset out originally to torture her, but I believe it's backfiring on me. My lips quickly replace my roaming hands as I tease each nipple thoroughly with my tongue. Even being in the water, I can feel the heat of her wetness surrounding my shaft. Rolling my hips, I tease her as I slide in slightly more.

"Stop teasing me ZoD!"

Tessapractically growls at me when I lift her completely off me to sit her on the side of the tub. I sink down in the water, coming up directly in between her glorious thighs. My tongue licks every new mark as I go. Her folds glistening, beckon me closer, as she opens her legs. This allows me the perfect view of her pleasure nub, swollen and aching for my touch.

Graspingher hips tightly in my hands, I pull her to the edge while moaning with the first lick of her juices. Her body trembles under my attack as I lick and suck on this nub that makes her fight as she pulls me near at the same time. Slipping a finger inside her, she leans back, grips my head. Every stroke of my fingers brings her closer and closer to her release. Her inner walls grasp my fingers tightly just before she screams out my name. I almost embarrass myself like a youngling, as her release brings me as much pleasure of my own. WhenI see her start to shiver, I lower her back into the water. My shaft slides across her belly as her body settles back over mine.

"You ain't done, mister."

"This wasn't about me. I only wanted to see you fall apart in my arms."

Iwatch as she reaches up and grabs the soap, lathering her tiny hands heavily. She grabs my shaft in both hands, gripping it hard, each pass going up and down vigorously, teasing the tip with each stroke. In no time, I am groaning, my hips lifting with each caress of her small hands. WhenI can't stand it any longer my own hand merges with hers and in two strokes. I roar out. My own release is so hard, I swear I see stars.

Ihave to move her hands away when she keeps teasing me because I am so overly sensitive now. AsI pull the plug on the tub, I reach up and grab the nozzle rinsing both of us off before picking her up.

"Come on, Amori. We must get going. The last thing we need is Zllera and Wynd to come looking for us, and I did tell them we would be right down. Come here, let me dry you off."

"Oh, no you don't. I can barely stand now. You keep those roaming fingers to yourself, mister. That tongue of yours should be labeled a dangerous weapon."