Page 145 of I'm Not Your Pet

There were a lot of cultural things I was still getting used to at that point. And I’d been pleasantly surprised that the wedding ceremony itself hadn’t been all that different than an Earth ceremony. Later, I’d found out that was because Roark had done his research.

Even going so far as to contact A&R to get details, as well as surprise me with permanent translators for the both of us. At that time, he’d also requested more information about Earth customs—though I hadn’t learned that for long after our ceremony had passed.

I’d repaired the two broken translators Roark had gifted me on our trip through space as a wedding gift. Neither of us needed them, but I knew he’d appreciate the sentiment all the same. They were a symbol of what we’d been through, a broken communication barrier mended. I intended to give them to him in the morning, after we’d both had adequate rest.

“Huu-goh,” Roark had said as the night wound to a close, the guests giggling and drinking, and falling all over the garden in happy, drunken stupors. Humans hung onto their Sahrk counterparts, clusters and pairs of the mix of species dotting the lawn.

“Mmm?” I’d sighed, rubbing my cheek against his bare chest.

Rather than force him into human clothing again, I’d opted to wear what was traditional for his species. Which meant we were both shirtless, wearing gossamer pants and crowns made of flowers picked by hand.

“Huu-goh,” Roark had repeated, his voice lower than before. For the first time since I’d met him, he’d also partaken in enough alcohol to get a little buzz going. It’d faded by this point, but the flush was still on his skin. “I want you.”

“Oh.” My cheeks went hot. “Bed?” I’d urged, wasting no time as I leaned up to place a kiss on the underside of his chin.

Roark had hummed in agreement, already walking us toward the path that would lead us to our home. When he’d shifted me into the other arm to unlock the door, I’d felt his cocks push against my ass.

Ushuu, in preparation for that night, had given me something…useful.

Something I’d made sure to partake in right before Roark and I had hit the dance floor—in case it needed time to work. It was a tonic of some kind. Something he’d been working on with a few others since the humans had arrived on the planet.

He’d called it a wedding gift.

And I couldn’t help but feel like he was right when Roark had pushed me onto the bed with a grunt, and my hole clenched—wet—though I hadn’t touched it since the last time he’d been up there. Not that that had been all that long ago.

Fuck.

“Roark,” I’d murmured softly, staring at him—at his black eyes—and the way his lovely chest heaved. He’d licked his lips, long tongue snaking out and down, to trail over my chest. With a few, pointed flicks, he got my nipples to perk up.

He’d become an expert at that.

He knew exactly how to get my body to react.

And he enjoyed my flush—more than anything.

“I have a surprise for you,” I’d told him, because I did. “Courtesy of Ushuu.”

“A surprise?” He’d echoed, intrigued.

“Let me just—” I’d pushed at his chest and he went willingly, still bracketing my body with his warm bulk as I shimmied out of my pants, then reached for the hem of his. He’d made an inquisitive sound as I shoved them down, biting my lip when “Pushypush” and “Politeypants” wiggled toward me.

Always so eager.

Jesus.

“What is the surprise?”

Roark was impatient. I couldn’t blame him. I’d kinda trained him to be that way. Always surprising him with lingerie and toys—and new ideas when it came to sex. I’d Pavlov’s dogged him.

“We’ve done a lot together…” I’d started, pleased when he grunted in agreement. “But there’s one thing…we both want—that you’ve been too scared to try.”

Roark knew what I was talking about immediately. He’d studied me, trepidation and excitement written all over his face. I knew his fear came from not wanting to hurt me. But…that’s where Ushuu’s present came in.

It was supposed to slick the way. To soften the passage. And to allow something much, much bigger than a human cock to slip inside.

Spreading my legs, I’d placed a hand beneath my knee to pull myself open. Roark had growled, ducking his head to get a better look. The sound that left him was ragged—and high-pitched. A needy whine, as his claws dug into the mattress.

“What is?—”

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