Chapter Thirty-Four
Mallory couldn’t stop grinning as her sister told her of all the people she’d met, the delicious foods she’d tried, and how the ever-patient Zaureth had watched over her like a hawk.
“He’s some sort of a healer,” Amy was saying as the Bracadyte in question came striding into the room.
Stopping next to Amy’s seated form, Zaureth laid his hand in hers. “I will take you downstairs for a snack. We have a big day ahead of us.”
“Has the sun risen already?” Amy accepted his assistance, permitting him to pull her to her feet.
“It has,” Zaureth affirmed, guiding her toward the door.
Mallory nearly teared up as Amy stopped and tilted her face up toward Zaureth’s, her expression open and excited. “May we sit on the beach for a few minutes while you describe it to me?”
Zaureth cleared his throat. “Describe the sun?”
“All of it,” Amy gushed. “The waves, the sun, the sand…everything.”
Her enthusiasm must have been contagious if Zaureth’s expression was any indication. He stared down at her in wonder. “I will describe the entire world to you, if that is your wish.”
“It is!”
Mallory watched them go, gratefulness settling in her chest. “Zaureth is amazing with her. Don’t you think?”
“He is. But I would rather talk about us for a moment.”
Mallory tilted her head. “Is something bothering you?”
Vaulcron shook his head. “Come. Sit. I would have a word with you.”
Dread reared its ugly head. “What is it?”
“Please sit.”
“I don’t want to sit. Please, just tell me.”
His hand drifted over to rest on her abdomen. “You are with child, Mallory.”
Mallory’s stomach turned over, and heat rushed to her face. She had to grab on to Vaulcron’s arm to keep from falling.
Vaulcron steadied her. “Mallory?”
“I’m pregnant?” she asked numbly. “Are you sure?”
“Zaureth sensed it when he touched your hand.”
A shudder instantly passed through her. If she and Vaulcron hadn’t escaped the government’s hold when they did, Howell would have eventually gotten his filthy hands on her baby.
Vaulcron’s face blanked, and sorrow shone from his eyes. “You do not want to bear my child.” It wasn’t a question.
Tears quickly threatened. Mallory reached up and cupped his cheeks in her palms. “I want this child more than anything else in this world.”
“You are not disappointed?”
The insecurity lining his voice tore at her heart. “No, baby. I’m just scared is all. I was thinking about our time at Winchester Industries. What if we hadn’t made it out of that place?”
Her hand immediately went to her abdomen. “They would have…” She couldn’t finish the thought.
Vaulcron pulled her against him. “You are safe now. Both of you.” He laid his palm over hers. “I will never allow anything to harm either of you.”
The tears Mallory fought so hard to contain spilled over to track down her face. “Make love to me, Vaulcron.”
Vaulcron gently picked her up and carried her over to the stand at the foot of the bed. With infinite care, he untied the sash to her robe and slipped it off her shoulders to pool at her feet.
Mallory could only watch in wonder as his passion-filled gaze traveled the length of her body. “Beautiful…”
“You’re the beautiful one, Vaulcron. Everything about you is breathtaking, from your remarkable eyes to your innocent heart.”
She released his sash and opened his robe. “I love you, Vaulcron. More than I ever thought possible.”
His dropped to his knees in front of her, a suspicious moisture appearing in his eyes. “Tell me again. I need to hear it again.”
Mallory brushed her lips across his. “I love you.” She kissed the tip of his nose. “I love you.” Dragging her lips higher, she kissed each eyelid, soaking up the evidence of his tears. “I will love you for forever.”
Vaulcron stood in one fluid motion, hovering over her with hooded eyes. “I cannot put into words the depths of my feelings for you, Mallory. But I can show you.”
He lifted her onto the foot of the bed, gently opened her thighs, and knelt between them.
Mallory stared down at the top of his head as it moved ever closer to her center. He looked up and met her gaze. “Lie back and open yourself to me.”
A wave of lust washed through her at his command.
Easing back onto the bed, Mallory stared up at the ceiling in anticipation of his tongue.
He lifted her legs, draped them over his shoulders, and tugged her forward. His hands slid up over the tops of her thighs, stopping at her exposed mound.
Mallory moaned aloud with the first touch of his fingers on her sex. He carefully opened her and swiped his tongue over her tiny bundle of nerves.
“Vaulcron,” she whispered, gripping his hair as he sucked the throbbing pleasure point into his mouth.
He rolled his tongue with just enough pressure to wring another moan from Mallory.
Applying more suction, Vaulcron lifted her higher, freed one of his hands, and carefully inserted a finger inside her.
Mallory’s hips unconsciously bucked. The feelings created by his swirling tongue, coupled with the slow, erotic slide of his finger, took her breath.
“Vaulcron,” she gasped, an orgasm quickly building, leaving her no choice but to follow it over the edge.
Her legs tightened around his shoulders, and she ground against his commanding mouth, riding out her climax in complete abandon.
He continued to slowly lick her until the release calmed enough that her legs slowed their shaking.
“I need to be inside you now,” he growled, rising from the floor to climb up her body.
Mallory moved to pull herself higher up onto the bed, but Vaulcron gripped her legs, keeping her at the foot of the mattress.
Draping her ankles over his shoulders once again, he gripped his massive erection and guided it to her opening. “I do not want to hurt you or the babe. Stop me if it becomes painful.”
“You won’t hurt me. I want you too much,” Mallory breathed, staring up into his sexy face.
The feel of him pressing against her opening brought on a new sensation, wringing another soft sound from her throat.
He stilled. “Am I hurting you?”
Mallory shook her head, lifting her hips higher for deeper penetration. “Please, don’t stop.”
“You feel incredible,” he rumbled, inching forward, stretching her to a near painful limit.
Vaulcron pulled back slightly before easing back in, seating himself fully inside her. “You belong to me, Mallory. Now and forevermore.”