Chapter Eleven

 

“Alice. Alice, wake up now. Come back to me, my mate.”

She didn’t want to wake up. She wanted to sleep.

“Just a few more minutes, Mom.”

“Alice. It is me. Jaxan.” Fingers stroked gently down her cheek. Jaxan? Who was Jaxan?

Suddenly, she sat up with a gasp. “Jaxan!”

“Yes, little one. Jaxan.” He gently pushed her back until she lay down. “Lie still. You could still be light-headed.”

“Light-headed? What happened? Did I faint? I’m naked. Why am I naked? What is between my legs?”

She tried to close them, but he easily held her thighs apart, washing her folds gently with a warm cloth. Embarrassment stained her cheeks.

“We just joined,” he explained calmly. “You fainted. It often happens with human mates. We believe it is because the body goes through a shock, trying to adjust to becoming our mate. If you close your eyes and search deep, you might be able to sense me inside you. The bond is weak at the moment, but it will grow stronger with time.”

She’d fainted? Memories rushed at her. Jaxan making her feel so cherished, so sexy. The pleasure. The pain. Then blackness pulling her under.

“Um, I can clean myself,” she said, trying to reach down and grab the cloth.

He held on, watching her curiously. “You are embarrassed because I am caring for you? I had my mouth here. Twice. Yet you do not wish me to wash you?”

“That was, you know, in the middle of things. Now, I don’t know…” This seemed much more intimate somehow.

“I wish to care for you in all ways,” he told her. He pulled the cloth away, studying it. “You are still bleeding. If it continues, I will call for Racar.”

“No.” She reached out and grabbed his arm as he stood. “Please, don’t. I’m sure everything is all right.”

“I am very large,” he said without the slightest hint of arrogance. But then, it was only the truth. He was big. “I could have torn you by accident.”

“I’m certain I would be in more pain if you had. I’m meant to bleed, right?”

He nodded hesitantly. “I will get a clean cloth.”

As he walked away, she slumped back onto the masic. She was exhausted. From the sex. From the pain of losing her virginity. Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply. What did he say? That she should search for him? She didn’t feel any differently.

She opened her eyes as he returned and laid a clean, warm cloth between her legs. She had to admit, it did feel soothing.

“I have filled the bathing pool for you. It will soothe any lingering pain. You will bathe then rest.”

She tried to summon the strength to protest, but in truth that sounded like heaven right now. “I can’t sense anything different.”

“The mating bond is there, but sometimes it takes a while to feel it.”

“Annabel told me a little bit about it.”

“As long as we are not a great distance apart, it will allow us to find each other. If we had been bonded already, I could have found you when you went into the desert.” He frowned.

“I’m really sorry about I worried you.”

“Many of us searched for hours for you, Alice. We had no idea where you were. If we had not exhausted every other possibility, we would not have looked in the desert for you.”

She bit her lip. “Is the Emperor upset with me? For causing such problems?”

He sighed. “No, he is not upset with you. But he is upset that you went missing. You are precious to me. To all of us, Alice. When I think of what could have happened to you…” he shuddered. “Alice, I think we need to have a talk about rules.”

“Rules?”

“Yes. I do not know why you went into the desert today—”

“I was looking for those plants you gave me.”

“What?”

“On our first date. You brought me plants or weeds, I’m not sure what they were. But I figured I would give you some.”

“I did not realize females gave males flowers.”

“They were flowers?” She gaped at him then quickly brought herself under control as he frowned slightly. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings. “Of course they were flowers. They just, um, look different than our flowers.”

“We learned in our classes on human dating that males bring females flowers. They did not mention that females like to reciprocate.”

“They sometimes do. Not often, though. Wow, that was so sweet of you. Nobody has ever given me flowers.” She ignored his confused look and quickly kept talking. “Anyway, I kind of lost track of time and of where I was, and before I knew it, all I could see was desert. I tried to climb some rocks only I fell and smashed my communicator. It was really silly of me, and I promise, I won’t go near the desert again.”

“Good. I want you to pay attention to your surroundings at all times. I would also like you to tell me where you are going and when you will return. You will wear the tracker and your communicator wherever you go, and you will stay within the city boundaries.”

The restrictions felt a little over the top, but she couldn’t blame him. She’d created a big fuss, people had probably left their important tasks to search for her, and she hated that she’d caused such a fuss when the Zerconians had been so good to her.

“I’m really sorry for all the problems I caused.”

He kissed her forehead.

“I hope no one is angry with me.”

“No one is angry, little one. We were all concerned. I have waited so long for you if anything were to happen to you...”

She threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I need to be more careful. I won’t give you cause to worry about me again.”

He hugged her tight. “You are everything to me.”

“I won’t cause you any trouble again. I promise.”

***

“Alice? Alice!”

“In here,” she called back from where she sat in the walk-in wardrobe. Her bedroom in her father’s house would have fit into this wardrobe twice. She glanced up as Jaxan walked in. She tried to always be here when he arrived home, knowing how he worried about her. She got glimpses into his feelings sometimes through the bond, which still flickered in and out.

Not that she went many places nowadays, just to the palace to visit Zoey or to visit Saffron and Sophie.

“What do you do?” he asked, staring down at her.

“I ripped a hole in this skirt, so I’m sewing it up.” It was a skill not many Earthers had anymore, but her mother had taught her how to sew when she was young, and she’d brought her needle and thread with her to Zerconia.

“Why do you not buy some new clothes? I have opened accounts for you at the market.”

“Thank you. I know.” It was generous of him, but she didn’t want him spending all his credits on her. It was obvious that he didn’t have much. In the community where she’d grown up, men had handled all the finances. Her parents never discussed money, and her mother would never have asked her father about their finances. Even though Alice no longer lived under her father’s rule, she still felt reluctant to bring up finances.

“I’ve made dinner.” She placed her sewing gear away and stood. “Are you hungry?”

“Always.”

She plated everything up, and they ate outside.

“I have something to discuss with you,” he told her. “Dex has arranged a meeting with Prince Ramar of Vexer. The Vexerans use Drazum stones as a power source, and we happen to have acquired a large number.”

Hm, the way he said acquired sounded suspicious, but she didn’t interrupt.

“The Vexerans are an old culture with many rituals and rules. It would be considered rude if we were to leave our female mates at home when we visit their planet. I must go with Dex.”

“So I get to go too?” A surge of happiness filled her at the thought. Finally, something to break up the boredom of her day-to-day life. When she left Earth and her old life, she thought her life would grow more exciting and interesting. Instead, life was just as boring as before. Except now, she didn’t even have chores or work to do, other than preparing meals and cleaning an already spotless house.

But she’d already caused so many problems, she didn’t want to complain. After all, Jaxan was an amazing mate. He was thoughtful, kind, protective. He worked long hours, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t attentive or thankful for anything she did for him.

She just needed to try harder to find a place here. Everything would be all right.

Eventually.