Chapter Thirteen

 

Alice walked into the living area of Jaxan’s house. She’d awoken a few minutes ago, fully dressed and alone.

Jaxan had told her he loved her.

And she’d vomited.

Great. Just wonderful. Way to go, Alice. The sexiest male in the universe tells you, plain little Alice Carmody, that he loves you and you vomit.

Woohoo! Bet that was a new record.

Jaxan jumped up, placing his tablet aside. “Alice, should you be up?” He moved over, his gaze concerned. But instead of touching her, he brought himself up short, pausing a few steps away. Hurt filled her. Didn’t he want to touch her now?

“I’m all right. Can we sit?” She gestured at the sofa.

“Of course.”

He sat at one end, and she sat at the other. Great. What did she say to breach the gap between them?

“Alice, I am sorry,” Jaxan said suddenly, surprising her.

“What?”

“I am sorry. I have not been a good mate to you.”

“What are you talking about? You’ve been a wonderful mate, well other than throwing my clothes away, you’ve been almost perfect. Why would you say that?”

“Because I tried to force you to be someone you are not. Because you did not feel comfortable coming to me with your financial concerns.” He fisted his hands. “I cannot believe you were wearing those old, uncomfortable clothes because you thought you had to purchase new ones yourself. I should have explained matters. I sometimes forget that you do not do things the way we do. If you were a Zerconian female, my telling you that I have opened accounts for you would have been enough to let you know you could spend what you liked. If I had a budget, I would have told you. Obviously did not make it easy for you to come to me with your concerns.”

“Oh, Jaxan, it’s not that. Well, not entirely. I didn’t want to come to you because I was overly proud. I came here with nothing except a few credits and some clothes. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. Not fully. Yes, Rich and Annabel were here, and I knew they would help me. But I didn’t want to be a burden.” She held up a hand to stall his protest. “I know you’re going to tell me I’m not a burden, but this is the way I felt, all right? I lived under my father’s rule for so long, listening to him tell me what a disappointment I was, how grateful I should be that he fed and clothed me, how I should have been a boy. I just, I wanted a bit of independence. To not be so reliant on someone to take care of me.”

She ran her hand over her face. “But I was wrong. Coming to you about this wouldn’t have made me a burden. I mean, if the roles were reversed, I would gladly share everything I have with you. I guess my father was right. I have far too much pride.”

Jaxan came over and knelt in front of her. “I would never see you as a burden, and I take great pride in taking care of you.”

“I know you do.” She smiled at him. “And contrary to what my behavior suggests, I like having you take care of me.”

“But you also take care of me.”

“No, I don’t. I have nothing to offer you.”

He raised his eyebrows. “You think not? After I have had a trying day, who gives me a massage?”

“Well, I do. But—”

“And who makes certain that all of my favorite foods are stocked?”

“But that’s easy.”

“You take care of me, also, Alice. This relationship is not all one-sided.”

She bit her lip. “You really think that? I felt like I was doing all the taking and no giving.”

He snorted. “I have never met a more giving person in my life.”

She smiled shyly. “I can think of something else to give you.” She reached for his pants, but he grabbed her hands pulling them away.

“No.”

Alice stared at him, shocked. “No?”

“We must sort everything between us. If you distract me now, we will not discuss this, and we must talk about this. Alice, I love you.”

“I know. I’m sorry I ran out after you said that. I-I love you too.”

She saw the relief fill his face.

“Then if you love me, you will go back to being Alice.”

“But I am Alice.” Was there a translation problem? Perhaps her Zerconian wasn’t as good as she thought.

“No, you are trying to be the mate you think I wish you to be. But I do not wish it. I wish you to be you. Do you understand?”

Nope. And she was pretty certain she had another headache coming on, trying to understand that explanation.

“Um, I’m not sure what you mean. I was trying to do what you wanted me to do.”

“I know, but I was wrong. You should be who you are.”

“But I don’t want to cause problems or make you worry. You waited so long to find your mate, the least I can do is be the sort of mate you deserve. I want to be perfect for you.”

He took hold of her hands. “You are the mate I deserve. You, Alice Carmody, with your sweet smile, your clumsiness, your poor sense of direction. I want you to laugh. I want you to find delight in eating new foods or meeting new people. I want you to be happy. So, stop being perfect.”

She snorted with laughter then threw her arms around his neck.

“I will try not to be perfect.” She snorted. “Never thought I’d say those words. And I am happy. I have you. I’m the luckiest girl in the universe.”

“No. I am the lucky one. I am lucky to find a female as unique and special as you.”

She leaned back to look up into his face. “Now can we go into the bedroom?”

“Who says we need to go anywhere?” he asked. Grasping her neckline, he ripped her dress down the middle.

“Jaxan! This was the last piece of clothing I had left.”

“I will take great delight in shopping for you tomorrow. Or maybe I will wait a day or two. I enjoy the idea of you walking around naked.”

“Well, get over it.” She punched his arm lightly. “I have plans for tomorrow. I’ve got to catch up on the self-defense lessons I’ve missed.”

“I suppose I must let you out of the house at some stage,” he said in a mournful voice. “I will just have to take advantage of your naked state while I can.” He ripped the rest of the dress off her.

She clasped a hand over her panties and bra. “Don’t rip anything else. They don’t sell bras at the market here. They have to be specially made.”

He stuck his lip out. Was he actually pouting? “I do not like them. They hide you from me.”

“I’m not going without a bra.” She gave him a stern look as she removed her bra then stood and pulled off her panties. “Not unless you want my boobs to be around my ankles by the time I’m fifty.”

“I do not care as long as I can kiss and caress them.”

Jaxan grabbed her, pulling her close. He lifted her high, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. Her heat pressed against his stomach and she groaned as the friction sent shivers of delight through her.

Jaxan nibbled his way down her neck, biting down where her neck and shoulder met. Alice threw her head back with a low moan.

“Jaxan.”

“Do you like that, mate?”

“Yesss,” she hissed out as he lifted her high and circled her nipple with his tongue. He moved from one nipple to the other, teasing them until they were stiff and highly-sensitive.  He placed her back on the sofa then knelt between her legs, stretching them wide.

“Bring yourself to the edge of the seat,” he ordered gruffly.

She moved her hips to the edge, gasping as he licked her wet folds. He made a murmuring noise of approval, lapping at her, then circling her clit before thrusting his tongue deep into her passage. She fell back against the back of the sofa with a cry. He reached up and plucked her nipples as he ate her.

When she was right at the edge, he pulled back.

“No!” she cried out in protest.

He chuckled then stood and stripped. “I want to come with you.”

As long as he came quickly. Because she was so close it wouldn’t take much to send her crashing over the edge.

Instead of joining her on the sofa as she’d expected, Jaxan drew her up, pulling her into his arms once more. She wrapped her legs around him as he settled her on his cock.

“Oh heavens,” she groaned.

He held her around the hips, pulling her up and down his cock. This wouldn’t have worked if he wasn’t so strong. But he held her easily, without any sign of a struggle. He walked, holding her on his cock and she groaned. She felt on fire, each nerve ending was alight, needing him, starving for him.

He sat her down on the bench in the cooking area. “Lay back.”

The coolness of the counter was in contrast to the flames licking her skin. The bench was high, placing her at a good level for him to thrust inside her. He twisted her nipples gently as he started to slowly push in then pull out.

“Jaxan, please. I need to come.”

“Soon, my mate. Soon.”

Her breath grew short, her pulse rapid as he sped up, his movements growing faster and faster until she was convinced she couldn’t take much more.

Then he touched her clit, pressing down on it.

She exploded.

Jaxan leaned over her, pounding inside her until he followed her over into bliss. And as he did, she felt the mate bond firmly click into place.

The rightness that filled her was almost overwhelming. Tears streamed down her face.

This was it. This was home.

With Jaxan.

***

“Strangest thing happened last night,” Zoey commented as she walked beside Alice through the market. They were searching for some dresses for their trip to Vexer. Alice was also buying other items to build up her wardrobe.

For once, she wasn’t counting out every credit. Jaxan had made her promise to buy whatever she needed, threatening to come to the market with her himself and ensure she just did that.

Thank goodness he’d come down to the market earlier and purchased the dress she was currently wearing. It was a light, wraparound dress that she really liked. She’d already purchased two more in different colors.

“What happened?” she asked, picking up a gorgeous necklace with blue gems.

“Oh, that necklace would look beautiful on you.”

“It wouldn’t, wouldn’t it?” She held it up to her neck.

“Yeah, Jaxan would go insane if you greeted him at the door wearing that. And just that.”

“Zoey!”

“What?” The Empress gave her an innocent look.

“So are you going to tell me what happened?” She looked over the jewellery, but her gaze kept going back to the blue necklace.

“Elodie wouldn’t sleep so I was taking her for a walk. Dex was walking with me. So there we were, just strolling along and enjoying each other’s company, and then something fell out of the sky and landed right on Dex’s face. Can you guess what that thing was?”

Oh please, dear God, please, no.

“No, what was it?”

“A pair of white cotton panties.”

Heaven wept.

“Is that so?” She kept her face averted, knowing she’d give herself away immediately. “That’s a bit weird. Wonder where they came from?”

“Very odd,” Zoey agreed. “Not that many people would wear white cotton underpants. Size extra-small.”

“No, I guess not.”

“Dex was a little put out. Not every day a pair of undies lands on your face. I guess we have to hope they were clean.”

Please, God. Please, stop this now.

“Let’s hope so,” she agreed.

“Hmm, the funny thing is, there were only a few houses above where we stood. One of them was yours.”

She glared at Zoey. “All right, we both know they were mine. Jaxan threw them over the balcony railing.” She bit her lip. “Was Dex really angry?”

“Nah, don’t think he realized what they were for a start. I think he was angrier that I started laughing like an idiot and woke Elodie up.”

“Oh, Zoey, I’m sorry. Do you think I should apologize?”

“Don’t apologize. You gave me a good laugh. Old panty-head doesn’t think it’s so funny, though so I wouldn’t bring it up with him.”

“Please tell me you didn’t call him that to his face.”

“Of course I did.” Zoey walked off with an evil chuckle.

Alice followed her, but not until she’d paid for the blue necklace. Zoey was right, Jaxan would like to see her wearing it.

And just it.