Chapter Nine
Morning came quickly, and he felt slightly hung over from lack of sleep. He’d taken Laylla so many times he’d lost count. Rich rolled over and stared down at Laylla as she slept. It was crazy to feel so much for someone he’d only known for a short amount of time. But it had been an intense few days. He pushed her golden hair back off her face. He couldn’t stay, and it wouldn’t be fair to ask her to come with him. He didn’t know what the next few months would have in store for him, but he knew he wouldn’t have much free time. He’d be asking her to leave her home, her family, a place where she was important to come with him into the unknown.
No, it wasn’t fair to ask her to come with him.
But he still wanted to do it.
As she opened those beautiful eyes, he smiled.
“Laylla, I—”
He rolled, looking up as the wind whipped around them, shaking the shelter of trees above them.
“A flying ship,” Laylla said loudly over the noise.
Rich turned to her, taking in her look of amazement. She smiled but he thought it looked a little forced. “Your friends?”
“Yes.” Even though he’d spent most of his time wishing they’d hurry up and rescue him, now that they were here he found himself wanting a bit more time.
“I suppose we must get dressed then before they find us like this.”
“I guess.” He leaned in and kissed her. “You might have kidnapped me and held me against my will, but it turned out to be the best week of my life.”
“Really?” She raised an eyebrow. “All of it?”
“Well, there are certain parts I wouldn’t want to relive and others I’ll be dreaming of over and over for the rest of my life.” He winked at her and she smiled.
***
How had she ever thought he would be hers?
As she watched Rich interact with his friends, she could see how he naturally took command. He was in his element. Strong. Confident. It would never have worked between the two of them. He would soon have grown unhappy as her mate, having to defer to her, to allow her to take control. And she was not certain she could give up that control to him.
Although there were times when letting him dominate her certainly had its advantages. She warmed as she thought of everything they’d done last night. She would carry the memories with her always. At times, when she grew tired of all her responsibilities, of always having to appear strong and invincible, she would still have these memories to return to. To remember a time when she was truly happy.
“Laylla? Laylla?”
She looked up, startled to realize Rich was standing in front of her. She stood. “Yes?”
“I called your name but you were a million miles away.”
A million miles?
“I was here all the time.”
He let out a chuckle.
“Something is funny?”
“No. Well, yes. I forgot that our Earther sayings can confuse others.” He shook his head. “The Zerconians have problems understanding us as well.”
From what he had told her during the night, Rich’s sister and cousin had mated Zerconians and he had been staying on their planet while his friends gathered information needed to overthrow the corrupt leader of his planet. She hadn’t understood everything he had told her, but she knew that what he was doing was important.
More important than being with her.
“Did you want something?” she asked more sharply than she had intended.
He glanced away then turned back to her. “We are ready to go.”
She would not show how upset she was. She would remain strong. She nodded. “Then I suppose this is goodbye.”
“Yes, I suppose it is,” he agreed, but he didn’t move towards the new spaceship. She noticed that the others had disappeared and it was just the two of them.
“Rich, I wish you a good journey and safe travel,” she told him formally.
“Screw that.” He drew her against him, holding her tight as he pressed his lips against hers. Hard. Hot. Her body stirred and she melted against him, almost clinging to him. When he pulled back, his gaze was fierce. “I will miss you. Tell me the truth, will you miss me?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
He nodded once then let go, turning away and walking towards the flying ship.
That was it? That was his goodbye?
Suddenly he stopped. What was going on? He paced back and forth for a moment as she watched on in confusion. Then he turned back to her.
“Damn it!”
She had heard those words numerous times. Usually when he was frustrated or angry.
Then he strode back to her, his face furious. Why was he angry at her?
“If you’d just left me on the ship everything would have gone on as I had planned. Logan would have found me, taken me to home and I could have achieved the goals I’ve been working towards my whole life. If you hadn’t come into my life.”
“You can still achieve those goals,” she shot back, insulted by the implication that this was all her fault. Did he not think he had affected her life? Disrupted her goals?
Except her goals were not really her own. They were goals that had been thrust upon her at birth. That she would become a strong protector, a prolific hunter and provider, and that one day she would lead their people.
Those expectations, she now realized, had weighed her down since birth. Before, it had not really worried her, well, not much. Before Rich. Now, she found what she really wanted was happiness. To be loved. Accepted for who she was.
To not be molded into who someone else thought she should be.
“Yes, I can. But I don’t want to.” He glared at her in frustration. “Without you.”
She frowned, confused. What was he trying to say?
“I want you to come with me. Will you?”
Come with him?
“Why?”
“Why what?” he snapped.
“Why do you want me to come with you? You said yourself that you have goals to achieve, you will have no time for anything else.”
Or anyone. He hadn’t said the words but despite the confusing way he sometimes spoke, she had understood.
“Look, if you’re wanting words of love you’ve come to the wrong man. I don’t know how to speak of love or romance or any of that crap. That’s not me.”
“I do not expect that of you.” In truth, she did not fully understand love or romance. They were not something her people had experience of. But she did know that she wanted him. “And I cannot give you the same.”
“Good.” He placed his hands behind his back. “Then we’re in agreement.”
They were? Over what?
“What do we agree?”
“Never to speak any of that soppy shit about love. I’ll warn you now, I’ll likely forget any special dates or anniversaries, I’ll probably work late every night, I’m terrible at birthdays or any romantic stuff. I’m rich. I’m going to be powerful. I can look after you. But I’ll probably never tell you I love you.”
She wished he would just get to the point.
“Rich, what are you trying to say?” she asked with frustration, placing her hands on her hips. “You were easier to understand when we could not speak to each other.”
“Come with me. I want you to come with me.”
“To Earth?” Could she do that? Leave everything for him?
“I know I’m asking a lot for you to leave your home. I know I am being selfish. I want it all. You. And to achieve my goals. But I do know this. I’ve never really been happy before, not until I met you. And I will do whatever I can to make you happy. But I cannot do that if we live on separate planets. So come with me.”
“Yes.”
“I know I ask too much. A new culture, a—”
“Yes.”
“And I’m bound to fuck up more than the average man. I—”
“Rich! Rich!” she half-yelled.
He stopped pacing and turned to her. “Yes?”
“Yes.”
“Yes, what?” he asked, looking confused.
She rolled her eyes. “I said yes. I will come with you.”
“You will. Why?”
“For all the reasons you stated. I do not want to live without you.”
“But you will be giving up everything.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Are you trying to talk me out of it?”
“No. Fuck, no.” He moved forward and grabbed her by the shoulders. “You mean it? Because once you come with me I’m not ever letting you go. Not ever. What is mine stays mine.”
His possessiveness didn’t scare her. On the contrary it was something she understood only too well. “And you will be mine. Forever. I, too, do not let go.”
“Fuck, yes.” He pulled her close but she shook her head and stepped back. “First, there are conditions.”
His scowl was fierce. “You said yes.”
Her Rich was strong and used to getting his way, but she was not intimidated. She was also used to getting what she wanted.
“There are conditions.”
He crossed his arms over his chest, looking suspicious. “Give me these conditions.”
“I will not sit in your home while you go and do your important things. I wish to fully be a part of your life. I may not know your culture or rules, but I am strong, smart, a good fighter and hunter, and I know how to intimidate when needed. I can be an asset to you.”
She had to feel useful, like she had a purpose or this would not work.
A slow grin crossed Rich’s face. “I’m going to need a bodyguard. Want to guard my body, baby?”
She was not sure why he called her a young child, but it was said with affection and no small amount of heat. She nodded. “I can guard your body. I do not know why you would need to remember dates and I do not know what an anniversary is. I will support you in what you need to do, but if I need to do something of importance you will give me your support.”
“Always, baby. Always.”
“And I wish us to have turns being the dominant one during joining.” She raised her chin, giving him a fierce look to know she was serious.
He did not react as she thought he would. Instead of looking angry or fighting her, he burst into laughter and pulled her close.
“All right. I think I can handle those conditions. Now on Earth, we have this saying, ‘let’s seal it with a kiss’.”
She frowned. “You do this with everyone?” She did not like the idea of him kissing other people. Especially other women.
“No, baby. Just with you. Always with you.”