Page 17 of Songbird
Tarrick’s piercing gaze remained fixed on me, unwavering even as Lucy interrupted to take his order and deliver drinks. He barely acknowledged her presence, causing her to shoot curious glances in my direction and mouth to me that she would needall the deetslater.
What would I say to that?
The explanation danced in my mind, well-rehearsed. To anybody who asked, Tarrick and I had met through Priemba, a spark igniting between us we couldn’t deny. Tarrick had realized in a moment that I was his fated mate, and the intensity of the attraction I felt for him was overwhelming. A small white lie that, as the days wore on, didn’t seem so much like a lie any longer—at least on my part.
As the final chorus ofIt’s All Coming Back to Me Nowbegan, my eyes fixed on Tarrick, the warm smile he wore heating my blood. But then a flicker of movement drew my attention to behind his chair.
A tall and stunningly beautiful female sidled up behind him. Her skin was like shimmering teal waters, and her hair cascaded down her back in soft pink tendrils reminiscent of graceful jellyfish tentacles. Her figure was slender and lithe, like that of a high-fashion model.
Gorgeous women didn’t faze me. I knew from my time in the spotlight that most of the allure was nothing more thansmoke and mirrors. But when I watched her lean over Tarrick’s chair and trail her fingers up his neck, lowering her head and licking his cheek….
Well, now, that pissed me off.
It pissed me off so badly I completely ignored the music forI Will Always Love Youblasting from the alien Echo Dot and instead launched into the lyrics of another Dolly Parton song…Jolene. The music box sputtered for a moment at the change of tempo and tone but caught up quickly, doing an excellent facsimile of the thumb-picked and steel string parts of the guitar.
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene,
I’m begging of you, please don’t take my man,
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene,
Please don’t take him just because you can.
The words twisted in my gut as I watched the female drape herself over Tarrick. If she licked him again, I wouldn’t be begging. I’d get off this stage and kick her ass. I wasn’t violent as a rule... slapping people was my mother’s thing. But for her, I think I could make an exception. Besides, Tarrick was my pretend mate, and in my way of thinking, that deserved some respect.
Thankfully, Tarrick seemed as off-put by the female’s behavior as I was. He jumped to his feet, gracefully blocking the female’s attempt to wrap her arms around his neck. He said something to her, to which she responded with a pout and again tried to curl herself around him. Tarrick remained resolute in his resistance, and after a few minutes, the female sashayed away wearing an expression of supreme disappointment. An expression that quickly turned to one of pure loathing as she locked eyes with me.
I finished the song to the applause of a crowd that didn’t seem to notice the aggressiveness in my voice. Tarrick moved to the side of the stage and offered his hand as I descended,leading me to his table. The female who had accosted Tarrick earlier sat a few feet away at the end of the bar, her bright yellow eyes shooting daggers at me. My stomach gave a nauseated flip, wondering what history lay between them.
“Friend of yours?” I didn’t hide the aggravation in my voice. Tarrick’s gaze followed mine to the bar, the female’s gaze becoming softer and more flirtatious when she noticed him looking.
“Not so much a friend as she thinks,” he said with a humorless chuckle.
“She must think a lot,” I quipped, turning my gaze toward the peach-colored fizzy drink Tarrick slid toward my hand. “Unless licking someone’s cheek is the same as a handshake to her kind.”
Tarrick’s gaze shot to me, the chocolate brown eyes seeming to dance with gold. “Izzy. Are you jealous?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I huffed in denial, but felt my face grow hot. “Licking somebody in public is just tacky, that’s all.”
“Izzy,” Tarrick’s voice was little more than a whisper as he leaned toward me, his fingertips caressing the curve of my cheek. Tarrick had claws, too, like Aqsa, but he was careful not to scratch me. “The universe is full of females. Despite how many I may or may not have known in the past, I haven’t looked at another female since the night I walked intoSpace Pearlsand saw you on stage.” His lips twisted into a grin that might have been just a little sad. “I may never look at another female again.”
The restaurant clamor and lack of nearby eavesdroppers concealed our conversation. But even so, he seemed to consider our ruse, leaning in close and gently nuzzling the side of my neck. When a deep purr emanated from his throat, it sent shivers down my spine. I felt my face flush with heat as a surge of arousal flashed through my body. The buzzing energy of the restaurant faded into the background as I became lost in theintimate moment—a stark reminder of how intimate we would need to become before the conciliator arrived. An intimacy that now seemed not quite as daunting as before.
“Are you warm, my mate?”
“Yeah…yes,” I muttered, realizing Tarrick must have misread my blush of arousal as being temperature-affected.
“Let’s get some fresh air.” He stood, offering his hand to me.
I put my hand in his, staying close to his side as Tarrick led me from the restaurant to the tunnel—the alien version of an elevator—that we took one level down. We’d explored the space station gardens last night, a tranquil oasis filled with vibrant flowers of every color and shape imaginable. The soft gurgle of a small waterfall in the corner added to the peaceful atmosphere. The aroma of alien florals mingled together, creating a heady fragrance that was intoxicating and soothing at the same time but not nearly as enticing as the spicy masculine scent of the male walking at my side.
A fine mist hung in the air, drifting down from the nearby waterfall and kissing my skin with a cool, refreshing chill. I couldn’t help but shiver. Tarrick noticed my discomfort and, without a word, pulled off his purple velvet cloak, draping it around my shoulders. The fabric felt soft and luxurious against my skin, holding his warmth and scent. It was almost as good as being held by him, but not quite. Without the cloak and only a black silk jacket and shirt adorning his upper body, Tarrick’s usually rounded figure appeared more toned... almost muscular, and my mind spun into fantasies of what he’d look like with no clothes at all.
I shifted my attention to a nearby bright orange bloom, like a cross between a rose and a hibiscus, trying to calm myraging libido. Yet I still had to ask, “So, do you get accosted by females a lot?”
“Define accosted,” Tarrick chuckled. I shot him an arched brow, which only made him laugh harder for a minute. Then he shrugged, and the eyes that met mine were sincere. “It happens. But I give you my vow—the rumors of my liaisons far exceed the truth.”
I would think about why that vow made me so ridiculously happy later. Right now, something else tickled through my brain.
