Chapter 5

Healing the sick was always fulfilling. People are such amazing creatures, able to break so many times, yet still be stitched back together again. Helping their own bodies natural healing processes was amazing to me. I dare say, it would be amazing to anyone who glanced at it.

While the rumor is true, the Moro people are a bit sturdier than most, we could still break. We also burned more easily, so I suppose it all evens out.

Adrianna. My mind supplied. She was so broken when I first saw her. Yet she is so amazing, still. An unyielding body with an unbreakable spirit.

The thought of her almost had me racing home. Her beautiful espresso colored skin contrasted so with my soft pink skin. The tattoos were beautiful and so fun to trace with the tongue if you just –

Off topic again. I apologize.

I remember when I first found her, she was so… fearless and beautiful, even though she was so wounded. Ebony hair that was as much of an untamable, independent masterpiece as she was, streaked with so many colors throughout it, I could spend hours naming them all. She could barely stand, yet she was ready to fight for herself.

Words cannot describe how attractive that is to me.

Oh, I can’t wait to see her beautiful smile to light up my day once more!

When I threw open the door to the house and declared “Adrianna, I have come home, bearing gifts.” I bought her another broach for her hair. (It had a tracking chip in it. It’s not right, I know, but I couldn’t help but worry. Sometimes she said things that made it seem as if she might disappear at a moment’s notice.)

Sniffing the air, I found myself grinning. Did she make me Dolp’era? But she can’t stand the stuff! Her nose scrunches in on itself in the cutest way when she smells it.

I was just thinking how much I didn’t deserve an amazing woman like her – her shady past be damned – when she ran towards me. “Darl’n!” She cooed, throwing her arms around me. Apparently, my name was similar to some kind of pet name on her planet.

My belly twisted, feeling the fluttering sensation of butterflies in my stomach at the feeling of her, back in my arms once again.

I couldn’t help but give her a grin. She was such a sweet girl, with a warm heart and a beautiful… everything. I wrapped my arms around her, smiling softly as I kissed her on the forehead. “How was your day, Sweetling? Is that Dolp’era I smell?”

She gave me a coy smile that made me only want to hold her in my arms even longer. So much so, that I began to pout when she jumped out of my arms and hopped away to our dining area.

“Adrianna,” I whined as I followed her. “I wasn’t done with my hugs.”

"Come and find out." Her mirthful voice teased, her giggle was such an angelic noise, it sounded like the soft fluttering noise of wind chimes in the breeze. She was just ignoring my complaint playfully.

I couldn’t pass up a challenge like that, now could I? I followed her into the house and smirked when I saw the table. It was set up with my favorite meal and candles. “How sweet. Did you do all this just for me?”

"Of course!" She declared happily, as we sat down to eat. She had her own plate of food because she didn't like the taste of Dolp’era, not that I blamed her. Even for other natives of Moro, Dolp’era was considered – how do I phrase this politely? – an acquired taste.

As I dug into my food with all the rigor of a pregnant woman with cravings, Adrianna began telling me about her day. Her way of experiencing the world and telling stories was always so fascinating to me, I have to pay full attention, lest I miss a crucial detail that she just glides right past, forgetting how important it is.

“You’ve been so kind to me. Such a gentleman,” She complimented, probably trying to butter me up. She has a certain tone of voice, just a few octaves too sweet.

I snorted, ‘acting like a gentleman? Really?’ She was blind to what truly ran through my mind. Which, I suppose, is best. It took 8 months for her to crawl into my bed and for us to have our first night together. Of course, I had been fantasizing about it since the first day, but I refused to take advantage of any woman like that. Even so much as to purposefully ignore the signs that she wanted me. Maybe they were different on her planet?

Regardless, the thoughts that crossed my mind about her had never been "gentlemanly". I thought she knew that, but I suppose she was blind to the fact.

“So, I wanted to make you something you would really enjoy.” She told me, surprising me. Ironically, I had often been considering the same thing for her.

She was so inquisitive and I wanted her to experience all the good the world – the galaxy – had to offer. If I’m being honest, saving up was never easy for me – I was used to spending money as soon as I could make it – but for her, I can do anything. It’s taking a while, but we will have enough money where we could explore the universe with not a single financial burden.

Me and my beloved going across the cosmos and seeing every beautiful thing that it has to offer. It shall be simply magnificent.

Not that I mentioned the idea to her yet. It shall be a surprise, and if she wants to stay here instead… well… we would have more than enough to take care of as many children as she wants to have.

"While I was at the market, the most peculiar thing happened." She explained to me. "It was so bizarre in a way I can barely describe it. I felt as though there were eyes on my person. Of course, that isn't strange because I know most of the kids here are confused by what I actually am, but it felt… more sinister than that." She was babbling now. "I mean, I know I probably sound crazy. But the hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I just didn’t feel okay. It left a few minutes later. I still don’t, exactly, you know, get what it was about.”

Okay, now she’s freaking out. Breathing shallowly as she tried to speak as fast as possible.

“Shhh.” I cooed to her, having finished my food already. I ran my hands through her luscious, glossy locks as I tried to calm her down. She scooted closer to me, as I held her to my chest, breathing deeply. “Nobody can get you here. If they tried, I would stop them.”

Listening to the beat of my two hearts working in unison should calm her down. It usually does. When I felt her breathing begin to even out, I held her chin between my thumb and forefinger.

Bringing her up to my face, I pressed my lips to hers softly. She was so perfect, almost like her body was molded to fit mine perfectly.

“Daah-leeeen,” She whined as she pulled away from me. I wasn’t worried as she was using her playful voice. “You taste awful.” Her nose was scrunched up again. Unfair how adorable she can be, while still being unbelievably sexy.

I barked out a laugh and breathed in her face again until she punched me in the shoulder.

“You jerk!” Adrianna called after me as I went to the bathroom to brush my teeth so I could taste good enough to get more kisses from my beloved. I avoided a pillow she threw at my back as I entered the bathroom, barking out another laugh at her.

When I saw her back in the room I almost drooled as she was wearing the black lingerie I bought her.

Rushing over to meet her on the bed, I could only think “This is what perfection is.”