Chapter Seventeen
Propped on an elbow, his head in his hand, Roth watched as she slept. He also basked in the incredible warmth emanating from her body as she snuggled more closely into him beneath the covers. Maybe too warm. Carefully, so as not to wake her, he moved his hand over her naked backside. Nicely heated from the spanking he’d given her, but not overly so. He traced upward along her hip, where it got warmer, the heat building as he caressed still higher into the dip at her waist, up her side, and over her ribs, exploring the full area of the marking they shared.
“It burns like this each time we are together. Is that normal?”
His eyes lifted, keying in on the blue of hers, now interspersed with light-purple flecks, giving them a blue-violet hue. They were beautiful, and he couldn’t keep from staring.
“Roth, what is it?”
“We’ll see what Jarlan knows, though I think the answer may be as simple as the full transformation takes more time with your people.”
That she bore his exact marking, irrefutably declaring she was his fated mate, filled him with a wellspring of emotions: pride, possessiveness, yearning, and love. Yes, this soon, he knew it was love, and though he had tried to deny it since the moment he gazed down at her lying motionless and vulnerable on the floor of her ship weeks ago, he knew all along it would be something this profound. Where she bore the mate’s mark, in the exact spot he did on his body, was something private that only they shared. But her eyes becoming like his was an outward sign of their bonding, proclaiming to everyone she belonged to him, was one with him, and made him smile.
He liked having her so publicly branded. Faex! He liked it a lot.
“You look very smug.”
“Do I?” he replied, dropping a kiss on her lips, and drinking in the sweetness of her response. Regrettably, it had to end there. He had a meeting with Kerr he did not want to miss, and lingering with her would make him do exactly that. “You, my violet-eyed beauty, are very tempting in my bed, but I’ve got to leave shortly.”
While she stared up at him, he was fascinated by the play of emotion on her face as she came out of her just-awakened, just-been-thoroughly-kissed daze. Observing her this closely, he knew the moment when what he said sank in.
“Violet-eyed!” She leaped up and rushed to the mirror on the far wall.
Seemingly oblivious to the display of soft curves and tumbled hair she gave him, his body stirred as he watched her lean in and examine her newly transformed eyes.
“It’s true,” he heard her whisper, a moment before she began finger combing her hair, searching the underside of the thick mass. From his vantage point, it was still blonde. The lovely light color was nonexistent among his people, and it pleased him, as did her creamy skin and shapely form. And for right now, the blush pervading her recently chastised behind.
He threw back the covers, swung his feet to the floor, and followed, eyeing that particular asset more closely. The lower curves where he’d employed the strap were of a rosier hue, but he saw no signs of any worse aftereffects. Still, some lotion might be called for in consideration of her delicate skin.
From atop the tall wardrobe, he removed a tube of cream specially blended to minimize bruising and reduce swelling. It also had a cooling effect on naughty red bottoms, although it didn’t do much to reduce the residual sting. There was another blend for that purpose, but most of the males opted for a lingering reminder, unless the punishment was extensive. He couldn’t imagine ever getting to that point with Maggie.
He removed the end cap and squeezed some on his palm while coming up behind her.
“Stand still, mate,” he ordered quietly.
Her eyes shifted from the mirror, where she’d been gawking in disbelief, to his hand.
“What’s that?”
“A healing lotion.” Without waiting for permission he didn’t need, Roth gently massaged it into her warm skin.
“That feels good,” she whispered as he took his time, enjoying this more than he should with a meeting rapidly approaching. “Will it work on the marking, do you think? It’s hotter than my bottom ever thought to be.”
“Really? I gave you five solid licks with that strap.”
“And I felt each one, trust me. But the mark, when it burns, feels like it will blister my skin at times, and when it dies down, it itches.”
His gaze shifted to the swirling mix of colors then lifted a hand intending to touch it gently with his fingertips. When she tensed and pulled slightly away, his face tightened in concern.
“Does it pain you now?”
“No, but it’s sensitive.”
“I’ll be gentle, mate, and we definitely need to discuss this with Jarlan.” He squeezed
more cream into his palm. “Turn to me, Maggie, and raise your arm.”
Doing as she was told on the first request, which was a rarity, she curled her right arm behind her head and cocked out her hip, giving him full access. It also gave him a delightful view of her breast, which lifted temptingly with her arm, the pouting nipple distending and seeming to beg for his mouth. He obliged, latching onto the tip without stopping the massage.
“Roth,” she hissed, her head falling back.
“I can’t get enough of you, little captain.” The words came out in a heated growl as he turned her and devoured the other firm nipple.
She curled her hands over his shoulder and hung on, offering him more. “I know how you feel.”
Groaning, he let her go and aimed a light swat at her bare behind.
“Hey,” she protested, as she straightened. “What was that for?”
“Because you are too tempting by half. And I’m going to be late for Kerr.”
“Can I go with you?” she asked while hastily forgetting the spank, which wasn’t much of one at all.
“Next time, if all goes well.”
“Next time? You’re going to discuss what we talked about, aren’t you? Oh, Roth, do you think he’ll agree?”
“He’s had an Earth mate far longer than me, so my bet is yes if he hasn’t thought of it himself already.”
She took the tube from his hand and pushed him toward the shower. “Hurry and shower, Commander, by all means, you mustn’t be late.”
“I bathed before you woke,” he stated while resisting her attempt to guide him.
“You did?” she asked, sounding surprised.
Mildly affronted, he fisted his hands on his hips. “I did.”
“Um, well, honey, no offense. But you might need another. You, kind of smell of me.”
“What?” He raised his arm and sniffed his skin, breathing out a sigh of relief when instead of flowers and woman, he smelled as he always did. Then, he laughed long and loud over her mistake. His mate was exceptional in many ways, but she didn’t listen very well to her lessons or to him.
“What’s funny?”
“Maggie, it’s the other way around. You smell of me. It’s common with a transformation if you’ll remember.”
“I do?” She sniffed her arm then pulled forward a thick bunch of her hair and breathed that in, too. “I do!” she repeated. “Good grief. I smell like a man, darn you.”
“Not a man, you smell of your man and that, as you say, makes it hot!” He pulled her hips into his own, crushing her bare breasts to his chest as he dipped his head, seeking another taste of her, and promptly forgetting everything except his hunger.
“Roth, your meeting with Kerr,” she reminded him as his open mouth glided up her throat.
“Faex,” he groaned, setting her aside. He grabbed one of his tunics from the open closet and tossed it to her. “Cover up, temptress, before I’m unable to leave.”
“Yes, sir, Commander,” she said, suspiciously obedient as she pulled it on. But she didn’t fasten it, leaving it to gape open in front, so the inner curves of her breasts, her sleek belly, and the blonde curls at the V of her legs were framed beautifully by the dark fabric. “What are you waiting for?” she asked innocently. Except the slight twitch of her lips gave her away: she knew full well her power.
“I’ll be as quick as I can. When I return, prepare to have your saucy bottom up and over my lap.”
“Roth! I was teasing.”
“Which is a punishable offense when I don’t have time to do something about it.” He tugged her close by the open flaps and did it up himself, after placing a kiss on the curve of each breast. “Now stop with the distractions, or I’ll never get back to fuck you as we both want.”
He whirled and strode toward the bathroom, ignoring the soft giggle behind him.