Page 110 of Cosmic Soul

“Yolkeltod has spinal damage.”

That explained the stiff way he moved. Worry plucked at me, dousing my lust. “Are you well?”

“I guess.”

A trip to the doctor was in order, though not today. I grabbed his hand. I’d seen Kalvoxrencol and Seth holding hands—a human thing, I supposed. Caleb’s fingers intertwined with mine, our palms pressed together. I couldn’t help but wonder what Caleb’s human hand would have felt like. Would he have been as soft as Seth? How would his small hand have fit within my much larger grasp?

When we stepped into our quarters, Caleb glanced around. “Where are the plants?”

Shame crept up my spine, settling into a cold ball in my gut, and I kept my gaze averted. “They died. After you…” I couldn’t finish that sentence. “I didn’t care for them.”

“We’ll plant more,” he said easily, like it was nothing, and my muscles unclenched.

Caleb shifted in front of me, and I cupped his hips, tail coiling about his ankle. His hands ran down my chest, hooking on the edge of my tunic and tugging it off. I stared up at him and wanted to laugh, but I couldn’t force the sound out. Caleb was taller than I was now. His shoulders were broad, though he was underweight. He was attractive with his long face and strong nose. Still, he was a stranger. I didn’t recognize him, and yet he was mine.

He brushed my pierced nipples, playing with the gold rings, and I moaned. My cock started to firm up. While my mind was struggling to recognize Caleb, my body had no such issues. It craved him, desperately.

I glanced at his wings that hugged his sides and his tail that clung to his leg. Caleb was still stressed, but I doubted he knew that.

“Come on,” I said.

I led him to the bedroom. Caleb didn’t fight and his cock was hard and ready.Hewasn’t, though. I divested him of clothes, having to rip the rest of his shirt off. Scars marred his left side where scales hadn’t grown back to cover his mottled skin beneath. I would have to make sure he took care of his exposed skin. It would be sensitive to extreme temperatures or drying out.

He watched as I stripped off my clothes, leaving us both bare.

“Lay down,” I told him. Caleb did. As he lay on his back, he shook. While his cock dripped pre-seed, the rest of him radiated unease. I settled next to his side and rolled him until he faced me. Arms around him, I draped my wings over him before throwing a leg over his hip and securing my tail around his leg.

“Sunshine?”

I heard the question in his voice. I nuzzled his forehead, breathing in the floral perfume that was my mate. Had Caleb smelled like this before? I had no idea. Did it matter? This was my mate’s scent now. Still, I wondered.

“Wrap your tail around my leg, Mate.”

“I-I can’t c-control it,” he said, voice breaking.

“You can. Breathe. Hold me tight. It will be alright.”

His arms enfolded me, pressing us against each other. His cock had softened. Maybe his mind was finally grasping the strain his body was exuding. Several moments passed before his tail wrapped firmly around my leg.

Stroking his back, I told him, “I must apologize.”

“For what?”

“Pushing you. My relief and desire outweighed my sight of you.”

“No.” He tried to wiggle back, but I didn’t allow him to. “I want you.”

He did, but he didn’t at the moment. I kept rubbing his back in long, smooth movements. A hiccup came from Caleb moments before tears dripped onto my chest. “Why am I crying?”

“You’re scared.”

“No, I’m not. Why would I be? I want you. I promise.”

Yes, he did. How long had he been struggling to get to me and ignoring everything his body was screaming at him? “I’m here. I’m right here.”

Another sob escaped him. I continued to stroke Caleb as he wept. I would be here with him, and we would sort everything out. Nothing would keep us apart, not even my unease as my brain struggled to catch up with this new reality. I would keep him safe this time. I would. Never would I fail my mate again.

Chapter 43

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