Page 31 of Ruarc
His fervent words are so heartfelt that I reach up and tenderly cup his jaw. “Ruarc, you once said that you did not want to be in a world without me, and those feelings go both ways. I love you and I always have. I have a confession to make. I knew you way before our world turned upside down on Viri 9. Do not look at me like that. Give me a moment to tell you how. You mentioned seeing me in a carriage with my family. Did it ever dawn on you that I saw you as well?”
“No, it did not. Why would you notice a scrawny youngling, sitting alone on a wall?”
I have to smile at his bemused question. “Because you were all alone. I am not sure what drew my attention first, your bright eyes or the fact that you were looking directly at me. I remember asking my sire who you were, and he shook his head, saying I was too young to care. When I tried to turn around in my seat, he put his hand on my knee and told me that ‘a princess does not show interest in young males for everyone to see’. I thought that was pretty foolish, but I loved my sire and was not going to embarrass him. I never forgot your face, and I looked for you every time we went out. The next time I saw you, we were both older, and you were playfully wrestling with another, so you did not see me. I did not even know you were mam’s youngling until you told me later on the Zenith. You had changed so much from that carefree boy that I did not make the connection. So, you see, I have always loved you, and I would have with or withoutthis collar. The thought of losing you... Well, I never want to go through that again.”
Carefully, Ruarc pulls me closer. “You love me? After all I have done, all the mistakes, all the harsh, uncaring words, somehow you still love me?”
“Do not make me regret handing you my hearts.”
Resolve fills his beautiful, purple eyes before they soften with an emotion that can only be described as devotion. “I will protect and nourish them like the treasure they are … you are.”
All this time, he has been staring at me as if he is memorizing my features, but the moment I say I love him, I see something change behind those piercing eyes of his. The wall he has built around his hearts crumbles, and I feel my collar expand with the intensity of his love. I barely have time to register that he has pulled me fully onto his chest before his mouth crashes down on mine.
This kiss is deeper and more meaningful than the last one we shared. Suddenly unleashed, I can feel what he has been holding back; the hunger, need, and desperation of his suppressed desires. His large hands tangle in my long hair, holding me close while he devours my mouth. I taste the desperation on his tongue as it tangles with mine, and I can feel the power of his rough hands as he maps the curves of my body where I am pressed against the hard planes of his chest.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, I hear the voices of others, and a few giggles, just as Ruarc breaks away, leaving me breathless before snarling at whoever interrupted us. “You frackers better make yourselves scarce real damn fast.”
The humor in Ruby’s voice is very obvious when she replies, “Don’t mind us, we are just leaving. Continue on as if we were never here. We’d hate to be the ones to cockblock anyone. Come on Slavic, I do believe they are slightly busy right now.”
Laughter bubbles up and escapes my lips before I can stop it, and Ruarc rolls his eyes in exasperation as we listen to them leave the room. I start to slide off of him now that I am conscious of his ribs that are still healing. He smacks me playfully on the ass hard enough that there is a slight sting when his meaty hand makes contact. “Where do you think you are going?”
“As much as I am looking forward to finishing this with you, you are in no shape to be exerting yourself.
“Do you want to place credits on that?”
His spirited question makes my laughter return in full force, and it echoes all around us as I lay my head back down on his shoulder. He sighs wearily, and it does not take long before his light snores resume. Comfortable, I just lay there content and happy for the first time in forever.
CHAPTER 20
RUARC
I sit here in the middle of the room listening to them all talking at once. Mam is in rare form as she seldom raises her voice. “Slavic, you have spent half of your life on that ship, plundering the stars. It is time you take your rightful position here with your kind.”
“I can better provide for you upon the Zenith, rather than down here. Up there, I have the opportunity to attain the things you all need. If we stay, we are simply adding more stress to an environment that cannot yet sustain us. Hopefully, Falon will be able to figure out how to get the comm system running, and then we could talk every rising. Einar has to go back with me because we do not know what condition Bikar or Murgul are in, and I might not have time to get them back here for treatment if they have gotten into some sort of trouble.
“So, all of you are leaving me once again?!”
“Of course not, since Ruarc and Falon both agreed to stay. We will all alternate between here and the Zenith.
“What about the other human female?”
“Heather is welcome to stay or head back with us, as that is her choice.”
Heather jumps to her feet, as if she has been eagerly waiting for this opportunity to interject into the conversation, “I am good right here. You can all have that cold ass, tin box!”
Everyone laughs as she sits back down with her arms folded across her chest.
“Slavic, do not misunderstand me. I know the Zenith is important to you and I would also love to see Murgul and Bikar, but I hate the fact that I cannot have you all with me at once.”
He gets up, gathering her into his arms. “Mam, once we figure out what is going on up there, and I know it is safe, Ruarc can bring you up to the Zenith since we are leaving one of the shuttles here. I assure you mam, this is not goodbye, so you need to stop thinking like that.”
I can tell this conversation is going to last a while, even though the same results will be achieved in the end. Even though I am not fully healed, the ache of needing to hold Kallen in my arms is all I can think about. I watch as she walks around with a few others, passing out drinks and what the humans call ‘snacks’. The moment she is within reach, I pull her down onto my lap.
“You want to sneak out of here?”
“Definitely … but we should not. You are still healing. and you need to rest, not be out walking around.”
“Kallen, I am going to ask this again: Do you want to sneak out of here? Ahh, never mind! If it works for my brothers, it will for me as well.” Before she or anyone else realizes what I am doing, I stand up and throw her over my shoulder in the process.Laughter, whoops, and whistles surround us as I make my way out of the room and the compound.
