“I have you,” Don whispered. He picked me up, and I whimpered when the connection broke between us. “I have you, my Vince. Let me take you home.”
A shot of longing for our room pierced me so strongly that I clutched the front of his shirt and begged, “Please.”
He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Hold on.”
I didn’t care about the looks we received or how it appeared to have the captain of the ship carry me through the halls. All I knew was I needed Don; he was all I needed or wanted.
Suddenly, like time had skipped, I was in our bedroom. Don settled me on the bed, and I reached for him. I needed to know he was here, that I was safe. He lay down beside me and pulled me into his embrace. I snuggled close, trying to burrow inside of him.
Don cupped my cheek and more calm washed over me. I groaned. It had been some time since I’d needed his gift, but I did need it, and I felt bad about it.
He kissed my temple. “Don’t. I’m happy to offer assistance whenever you need it.”
I climbed on top of him, draping across his broad chest, and went boneless with my eyes closed. I was safe. All of the memories receded beneath the gentle warmth of Don.
I pinged Serlotminden and asked him to finish meeting with the various station management I was supposed to. He readily agreed; he was a diplomat, though he did tell me he was going to leave Bartholomew with either Zoltilvoxfyn or Kalvoxrencol. He didn’t want his mate anywhere near the xoi anymore than I did.
Afterward, I simply ran a hand over Vince’s back while I kept my other hand and emotions latched to him. He was calm, utterly so, now. If I broke the connection, I was unsure he would remain that way. I wasn’t doing much at the moment besides stabilizing him, but that might be enough to keep him calm.
Sliding under his shirt, I tucked my hand against his skin. Vince relaxed even further. He was draped across me, and hisfamiliar weight was comforting. Vince needed me, and I loved that he did. Guilt made me swallow. I felt horrible that I liked him needing me, but at the same time, I thought back to what Kalvoxrencol had told me. Sometimes people needed to be needed, and I did.
Did Vince? Did he need me to give him permission to have me? Did he need the reassurance that I needed him as much as he did me? I’d told him that I wanted him. Wasn’t that enough?
Vince nuzzled my neck and planted a kiss on my jaw. I swallowed as arousal and desperation raced through him. His cock hardened against my stomach as he licked and kissed down my neck.
“Don,” he whispered in a husky voice.
He wanted to fuck so we could connect. We hadn’t had sex since he told me he wanted to go home. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to—I did; I loved Vince—but I couldn’t help but wonder if it would be the last time, and my instincts rebelled against such a notion. Though if we didn’t fuck again before I left, then the time he told me he loved me would be our last.
I cupped his butt and turned my head to meet his lips. “Yes, Vince.”
I gave him the image of me on my hands and knees and him taking me from behind. Vince groaned. I licked the seam of his mouth before tangling our tongues. After a moment, I pulled away from him and yanked my clothes off. Naked, I turned around for my mate. He peppered kisses along my butt.
“Don,” he moaned. “My good boy.”
“Take me, Vince.”
And he did while part of me died, terrified this would be the last time I ever felt my mate deep inside me.
Chapter 40
Not again, please.
I watched Don as he got dressed. We’d fucked once from behind, then after a bit, we’d fucked again, face to face. I’d needed to see Don, to see his face as I felt him squeezing me. I had to know it was him and not anyone else. Afterward, he’d spent most of the morning and early afternoon with me, but now he had to go back to the station. Mindy had covered as much as possible for Don, but he couldn’t do everything. I didn’t plan to move from being curled against his pillow, breathing in his scent.
Don tugged his long hair out of the back of his uniform. He faced me, putting one knee on the bed, and kissed me.
I groaned, cupping his cheeks. The kiss wasn’t the chaste one I’d been expecting. Don leaned into me, lips demanding. When his tongue prodded me, I opened for him without hesitation. His scaled tongue scraped against mine, making me moan. His kiss was claiming and insistent, but not the slightest bit harsh.
My gentle Don. He loved me being soft with him, but he gave it right back to me.
“Stay,” I asked, even though it wasn’t fair and he couldn’t.
“Vince,” he moaned against my lips before he captured me again. His kiss was just as fierce and demanding. I wrapped my arms around his neck to draw him closer. I didn’t want him to leave, to be anywhere the xoi were.
Fear raced through my veins. What would happen when Don wasn’t here? I couldn’t live with something happening to him.
“Hush,” Don whispered, pressing his lips against mine. “You’re safe. No one will touch you again without your permission.”
