“Why did you stop?” Seth asked. Before I could answer, he tugged me onto his lap, my legs bracketing his, and gripped my hips.
Carefully, I dragged my canines along his neck, and he moaned. Encouraged, I nibbled around the plaster. “Please, Seth. I need to see it,” I whispered before biting him harder, then licking the same spot.
“Fine.”
I peeled the plaster off, revealing a small scab. I licked around the dot, taking care not to dislodge the healing scab. Instinct demanded I clean the entire wound, but I didn’t want him to start bleeding again. The more I licked and bit, the louder he became.
I grabbed the necklace he wore, tugging on it. “I like it when you wear this.”
Seth tentatively skimmed his fingers over my back like he feared my reaction. I pressed against him and placed urgent kisses along his jaw. With a slight tremble, he teased the edge of my shirt up before slipping underneath and touching my bare scales.
“Yes, Seth,” I growled, rocking on his lap. His touch grew bolder as he traced the line of my back. I captured his mouth and laid claim to his tongue; Seth matched my needy pace. I sucked on his bottom lip and increased the rhythm of my hips.
I felt something harden against me, and I smiled.
My Seth wanted me. This was the first evidence I’d had. I wanted to carry him to my room and strip him bare before I worshiped every part of him. Despite that, I ceased my movement, because this wasn’t something we’d discussed, but my assault on his mouth continued. Seth held me close, gripping my hair.
When he finally broke away, his breathing was harsh and his face was flushed. Seth snuggled against me, and I kept one arm around him while my free hand finger-combed his short hair.
“I thought of something,” he said.
“What are you talking about, Mate?”
“I don’t like kissing in public or in front of anyone. Holding hands or you wrapping your tail around me is fine, but I don’t want anything more when people are around.”
A happy bubble swelled in my chest. Seth was trusting me.
“Are you alright with it?” His muscles tensed, and his voice turned wary.
Why wouldn’t I be? It was his body, and this was his boundary. I tipped his face toward mine. Kissing the divot between his eyebrows, I replied, “I will respect your needs as I assume you would do for me.”
He nodded.
“Thank you for trusting me.”
An attractive flush rushed to his face. Dragging my claws over his darkened skin, I smiled. Seth burrowed against my shoulder, and I stroked the back of his head. Practically singing, my soul glowed in joy.
Chapter 19
And you are?
We stepped off the shuttle, and my fingers tightened around Kal’s. I hadn’t wanted to come, but he’d asked, and honestly, this would probably be my one chance to explore a foreign world. So I’d forced myself to leave the comfort of our apartment, get on the shuttle, and travel to the planet.
Ships filled the port, which spread over the sandy expanse at the base of a plateau covered in green ferns and palm trees. Several shuttles resembled the one I’d ridden in—sleek silver with elegant wings—and many others looked like defunct ships. For all I know, they were.
I’d asked before we left why we didn’t directly transport to the planet’s surface. I mean, Kalhadsnatched me from the street on Earth. According to him, using shuttles was easier, safer, and cost less energy, and bringing supplies back was simpler by shuttle. Not to mention, Pet-something—I couldn’t recall the name—technology wasn’t compatible with Drakcon systems because it was mainly underwater.
Kal squeezed my fingers. “We can stay on the shuttle if you would prefer.”
I shook my head.
The commander stood with two security officers, talking, but when we approached, he said, “Pest, if you and your mate would like to go to the market, you need to take a security officer with you.”
“If we must.” His voice was rough and laced with annoyance. I rolled my eyes. Kal was clearly unhappy with the guard.
I tugged him toward the buildings in the distance. Some sat on the water with stilts elevating them above the waves, while others scattered over the land. Kal gave no resistance, though he did glare at the security guard following us. A crowd, filled with even more aliens that I didn’t recognize, moved through the street framed by circular wood huts with tall palm trees in the center. The support trees had deep green bark and paler green leaves.
Kal ushered me to a hut with jewelry of all kinds. I peeked at him, hoping he wasn’t about to clear out the shop for me, though he’d gotten better about buying me gifts. After a moment, he directed me on.
