Chapter Twelve

 

 

I awake to the sound of male Kleaxian voices drifting upstairs.

Zandek must be giving another English lesson.

Though the human women who came to Tallia hailed from a variety of cultures on Earth, English had long been declared the official language in Capital Acres, and anyone wishing to work on Tallia or visit was required to be fluent in English, even wealthy tourists. Language barriers were considered problematic, particularly in the case of an emergency, and the various companies that invested the most money in Capital Acres had voted between English, Russian, and Chinese. English had won by only a narrow margin, and for a while the Russians had temporarily boycotted travel to Tallia in protest. I wonder if Zandek knows anything about this, or if he thinks all the people of Earth speak the same language.

Zell has told me that Kleaxians all speak the same official dialect as the prime city of Kleax-Lul, but in ancient times there were seven dialects that all Kleaxians had to learn. I’m glad there’s only one Kleaxian dialect to worry about, however, because like Helena and Joanna, I haven’t been able to pick up any of it yet.

Zandek says one of their most brilliant scientists is working on a translator for human women that will allow us to understand the Kleaxian tongue, and I hope it’s widely available once the invention is complete—even if it must be implanted in my brain.

Still under the covers, I turn and peer out the open window. The scents of the nearby forest enter with the breeze, as well as the invigorating smell of the massive salt lake. The waves crash steadily on the shoreline, a relaxing sound that beckons me to run outside and stick my bare feet in the warm white sand. Though I’ve had good reason not to leave Zandek’s house, I’m starting to get a serious case of cabin fever.

I long to take a stroll through the quaint looking town or on the walking paths in the woods. I also yearn to venture out onto the Carmuit Lake. Zandek has a boat and he’s taken Helena out on the calm waters a few times, and while they have always invited me, I have politely refused, only to stand on the rooftop and watch from afar as they travel across the sparkling blue waters and out of sight.

Sitting up, I push the covers down and stretch my arms. Every inch of my body is humming this morning, and I know it’s because of Tavarr.

Meeting him three nights ago has seemingly altered me.

Whenever I think of him, an ache pulses hot and tender between my thighs, and I flush all over and can’t help but squirm. It’s all I can do to keep from touching myself sometimes, but I’m worried if I surrender to those shameless urges, that my unwanted desire for Tavarr will only increase.

I haven’t seen him since the night he came to dinner, but I know he must be in the prime city, petitioning the king for the right to claim me immediately.

I’m not as nervous at the prospect of becoming his mate as I once was, now that I’ve had several days to process the situation. If I’m being honest, I even miss the huge Kleaxian. No one has breathed a word to me about his location or when he might return, and I’ve had to force myself not to ask. I don’t want to appear eager to be claimed, not if there’s a chance Tavarr might try to wait longer to make me his.

But deep down, I know he won’t try to restrain himself. The hunger flaring in his dark depths had looked insatiable, and so feral he almost appeared angry. My mouth goes dry as I wonder what mating with him will entail.

Will he be gentle? Or rough? Will he try to coax me with sweetness at first, only to build to a crescendo of urgent and primal fucking?

Damn.

I rush to the bathroom and splash cold water on my face. I need to get it together.

Closing my eyes, I envision his black Kleaxian warriors’ uniform clinging to his huge, powerful physique just so, accentuating every well-defined muscle on his body. He’s the most perfect specimen of manhood I’ve ever seen, and the fact that his dark purple eyes had glimmered with tender yet lustful promises as we stood under the moonlight makes it impossible to banish him from my thoughts.

I want to see him again.

It’s true.

As much as I would like to deny it, I’m anxious for his return to the village.

Sighing, I don a soft, silky orange gown with layers of sheer fabric that dance around my calves as I walk. I know from glancing out the window at the females in the street, and observing the dresses Helena wears, that female Kleaxians tend to wear brightly colored dresses—at least those who aren’t walking around naked or scantily-clad. On Earth, I’d worn casual, rather plain clothing, in comparison.

Whenever I slip into one of my new gowns, I’m catapulted back into my childhood, to more carefree times, when I used to play dress up with the little girl who lived next door. I haven’t worn anything so feminine and pretty in years and years, and sometimes I can’t resist spinning in a circle just to watch the layers of my skirt flare out. It feels odd to not wear underwear, but apparently, the females on this world wear nothing beneath their outfits.

The streets are crowded today, I note as I perch on a seat by the window. There’s a tray of food on a small table nearby, and I suppose Zell decided to leave it and let me sleep in a little.

I smile, appreciating his thoughtfulness. Breakfast is always served in bed, and though I’ve told Zell time and time again that I normally don’t eat anything before lunch, he has persisted in bringing me a small meal each morning.

I glance at the tray. Today it’s an exotic fruit salad and thin slices of a meat I’ve come to think of as Tallian bacon. I select a few berries out of the fruit salad and nibble on them while watching the village. The rising sun is gleaming across the Carmuit Lake, sparkling like millions of diamonds strewn across the clear blue water. It’s calling to me today, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to decline another invitation to take a boat ride if Helena and Zandek offer.

But my thoughts of venturing outside cease when I detect movement in my peripheral vision.

I turn to find Tavarr standing in the middle of my bedroom. I gasp.

Oh God. He’s here. He’s finally here.

After the shock of his sudden appearance begins fading, my mouth starts watering—and not because of the fruit salad and Tallian bacon. No, my mouth is watering because holy hell, Tavarr looks even more handsome in the light of day.

I’m so busy admiring him, that I almost forget he didn’t knock. Almost.

“Um, so you just let yourself in here?” I ask, though I’m unsure he’ll understand. “Even the servants knock. What if I had been getting dressed or still sleeping?” I raise an eyebrow at him in censure, but I’m not as annoyed by his appearance as I’m letting on. I’d been thinking about him seconds ago, hadn’t I?

Missing him. Craving his presence with an intensity that’s affected me physically, causing my nipples to harden underneath my dress and heated spasms between my thighs.

Seeing him in person only strengthens my yearnings.

“You are my female, Katrina. I do not need to knock. I have come to claim you.”

His words, spoken in perfect English, leave me stunned. My mouth drops open and for a few moments, all I can do is stare. He’s been absent from the village for days, and he most certainly hasn’t taken English lessons from Zandek yet.

Sensing my confusion over his sudden proficiency in my language, he grins and taps at his head. “After the king granted my request to claim you immediately,” he says, “I was one of the first Kleaxians to test out a new language implant. The scientist in Kleax-Lul who is developing a language implant for human females to understand and speak Kleaxian has also developed an implant that will allow male Kleaxians to understand and speak English. While I had originally planned to learn your tongue from Zandek, that is no longer necessary. I thought it best that we understand one another sooner, especially given your obvious hesitancy to mate with me, sweet human.”

He strides to my place at the window, and I rise on shaky legs and peer up at him. He’s taller than I remember, standing at least two full heads above me. A steady drum beats in my ears, and after a second I realize it’s my heart thumping wildly. My hands start shaking, and I swallow hard and try to process all he’s said.

The king has granted his request to claim me.

Immediately.

A mixture of excitement and worry flitter in my stomach. The throbbing in my center is so out of control, that I can’t help but wonder if the mating urge—I can’t remember the name Prince Kenan called it—is contagious. Because it’s all I can do to keep from closing the distance between us and grinding my pussy on his leg.

Heat suffuses my face when his nostrils suddenly flare. Kleaxians possess senses superior to a human’s. What if he can smell my arousal? I flush hotter at the prospect.

He tips my chin up and leans down to capture my lips. I don’t stop him. I don’t want to stop him. I fucking want all of him, even though I shouldn’t. After the destruction of the Stargazer and Capital Acres, not to mention my experiences with Vonn, I should protest any Kleaxian male trying to claim me, but I soon become putty in Tavarr’s very capable hands.

He steps forward and presses his chest to mine, and this time the feel of his erect manhood straining through his pants doesn’t scare me off. He rubs my back and deepens the kiss, delving his tongue inside my mouth and taking command, one hand holding my face in place, his grip firm but not bruising. When he breaks away, I’m left panting for air, as if all the oxygen has been sucked from the room.

A sensuous smile turns his lips up, but his eyes darken and speak of urgent, all-consuming needs. “Your lips taste like berries. Soon I will taste the rest of you.”

“I…” My words trail off. I don’t even know what I’d been trying to say. All thoughts cease as he kisses me again, harder this time, thrusting his hips forward and rocking his impressive bulge against my stomach.

I reach for him, cupping his face and then letting my fingers tangle in his long, dark locks. He’s so beautiful, and I have to touch him. His soft hair is a stark contrast to his rough skin, and I alternate between trailing my hands over his flesh and brushing through his wavy locks, admiring the occasional white strand that I’d decided made him look distinguished and even more handsome over dinner three nights ago.

The enticing masculine scent of him increases, and I feel like I’m drowning in his kisses and caresses, but I don’t long for rescue. I only want to sink deeper and deeper, for Tavarr to claim me with all the mating fury I sense burning hotter and hotter inside him.

No man has ever kissed me with such passion or incited my womanly core to pulse so hot with abandon.

Without thought, I push his shirt up to trace his hard, chiseled abs. Oh yes. Fucking yes. A shudder runs through me. He breaks away from our kiss and emits a deep, animalistic growl that echoes off the walls. He presses his forehead against mine. His hot breath wafts onto my face. He grips my upper arms and holds tight, but again, not hard enough to bruise. Though he’s being a bit rough and highhanded—he did enter my room without knocking—he’s not hurting me in any way.

He’s not Vonn, I remind myself. He’s not Harry, either. Thank God for that.

“Please. I must know. Do you promise you aren’t claiming me for some nefarious reason?” I ask, somehow trusting him to answer honestly. Everything in my body aches to trust him, resonates with yearning to believe he is an honorable Kleaxian whose mind isn’t clouded by hate and a thirst for vengeance. “Do you promise you won’t harm me to punish me for your brother’s death?”

He gives another growl, this one agitated, but I soon realize he’s not upset with me. He’s upset that I must even ask the question. He’s upset with his horrid brother.

“Vonn was a disgrace. His first mate, Erixa, was meant to be mine—our fathers arranged the match—but he stole her away and mated with her before I could. He was long ago banished from Hehna, the town where my family lives on the other side of the mountain. I assure you that no one in my family mourns his death, especially after learning of how he almost killed a female. Though you are human, you are still a female and your life is precious.” He strokes my cheek, his gaze pained. “I seek no vengeance against you, Katrina. I seek only to make you mine, to treasure you as my mate until the end of my days.”

I take a deep breath. “If-if I ever disobey you, will you hurt me? Will you punish me?”

He’s quiet for a moment, but continues trailing a finger across my cheek, leaving a wake of tingling heat on my flesh. “Katrina, you have nothing to fear,” he finally says. “If you are naughty, the worst you can expect is a spanking. I will never strike you with an implement of any kind, not even my belt. But I will not abide a disobedient mate. There are rules you will be expected to follow. If you break one of those rules, I will not hesitate to turn you over my knee and redden your bare little bottom.”

His declaration should anger me, but it doesn’t. My traitorous body vibrates with arousal as I imagine being turned over his knee. I’ve never been spanked before, and for a reason I can’t fathom, the image painted in my mind—of me laying over his lap with my skirts lifted and my bare bottom on display while he scolds and spanks—leaves me as breathless as his kisses.

I gulp and attempt to control my growing lust, trying to convince myself this isn’t some sort of kinky bedroom play. He seriously will spank me as punishment if I’m naughty.

Not wanting him to sense my conflicted excitement, I say, “Well then, I shall endeavor to be perfectly behaved.”