I shrugged.
His forehead rubbed the nape of my neck. “I will never strike you, Seth. Not ever. Not in anger or for any reason. You are safe with me.”
The backs of my eyes prickled. I believed him. I really did, but my body didn’t, not yet. “Do you promise?”
“I swear it.”
He pressed an achingly gentle kiss on my neck before nibbling on my earlobe. My stomach swooped. Voice thick, I asked, “Does my past change how you look at me?”
Kal tugged on me and made me shift to my back. “I have an even greater respect for you. You survived. There is great strength in surviving. All I wish is that I could’ve gotten you earlier. That you wouldn’t have had to live through it.”
“That would’ve been nice. But then we wouldn’t have Lucy,” I remarked.
“True. I’m glad the Crystal chose you, my Seth. I want no one else. Now and forever. Just you.”
I kept my arms around Seth, who snored lightly. I’d agreed to watch an episode of a crime procedural if he watched an episode ofStar Trek. Seth had fallen asleep within minutes.
Tightening my arms and rubbing my forehead against his neck, scent marking my mate, I smiled. I liked this. I liked Seth. In the beginning, I’d known I would care about Seth, but it was more than that now. I liked him as a person—not an idea.
His story slithered through my mind. The very thought of someone striking his soft skin made light pool under my scales. I wanted to rip everyone who’d hurt him to shreds. If they somehow appeared in front of us, I would have done it without hesitation. I would never allow anyone to hurt him ever again.
Seth rubbed my arm, grunting. I relaxed my hold, taking in his citrus scent. He calmed, and his snores returned.
My Seth had lived through so much in his life, and he was still here. Seth was stronger than I could’ve guessed. Hewasa warrior soul, though it hurt to think about. Yet at the same time, I was grateful. His soul had helped him survive so we could be together.
I wished I could have claimed him when I turned fifteen; it would have spared us considerable grief.
Nevertheless, he was here now, and I could not lose him.
“Choose me,” I begged him. “Please, my Seth.”
Chapter 23
Everything is... good?
I woke up, back aching. When I stretched, a groan came from behind me, and I stilled. A steel-blue arm draped over my waist and drew me closer to a solid chest. My morning boner throbbed.Kal. I wanted to roll over, explore his body, and in turn, have his hot fingers glide over my skin. I forced my arousal away. Now was not the time.
Having told him everything was freeing. Nothing was left in the dark, and Kal hadn’t budged. Old fears and worries edged my mind as the worst-case scenarios circled: abuse, pain, andabandonment. I took a deep breath and pushed them aside. Kal had said I was safe with him, and I was going to believe him.
Like a bad smell, Urgg’s words came back. My memories would be taken if I said no, or if Kal’s father decided to send me back.
Stay, then, I told myself. I liked Kal, that much I could admit, but I didn’t know if I wanted to spend my entire life on a planet with a people so very different from my own.
Kal snuggled closer. “Good morning, my Mate.”
“Good morning.”
“Can I kiss you?”
I rolled over to press my lips against his. Kal shifted fully on top of me, and my legs hooked around his waist while my arms slid around his neck. His long hair hung around us and his earrings brushed my cheeks. He groaned, and I slipped my tongue into his mouth, gliding it over his scaled one. I ground against him. Maybenowwas the perfect time.
A loud screech sounded before a metal bowl clanged.
“Really?” I asked, panting. Lucy released another squeaky cry, tail wiggling. She was cockblocking me. “She’s hungry.”
“We best feed her, then.”
For some reason, his tone and hungry expression set my face ablaze. Kal smiled, showing his gleaming canines, which made my cheeks heat even more. His thumb rubbed along my cheekbone. “I love it when you turn red.”
