Page 38 of Kazzon's Human Bride
He guided her to the chair in the corner of the room, where they often sat together, and he sank down while holding her on his lap. She melted against him, resting her cheek upon his chest. As he ran a comforting hand up and down her back, her gentle breaths tickled him through the fabric of his shirt.
“If I had your powers,” she said, “if I could see whenever someone lied, there would be a perpetual black cloud around my mother’s head. I don’t think she misses me, no matter what Wilson says. I think she’s in her element right now, drinking up the attention that’s being lavished upon her. It makes me sick. I tried talking to her about it last night, but she cut our call short, claiming she had an appointment. I just feel like a fool for spending my whole life trying to please her. And for what? So she could embarrass me in some gushing interview that was really all about her?”
Kazzon’s heart broke for Caylee. He wished he knew the right thing to say, some magic words that would erase all her pain. He tightened his hold on her and imagined his affection for her as a warm light he could surround her with. Gods, it was his duty to protect her, and it killed him that he couldn’t save her from the emotional pain inflicted by her family.
“Have you spoken to your father recently?”
She nodded against his chest. “Yes, I called him after I talked to my mother. He was apologetic and he offered to give an interview to the paper himself on my behalf, but I told him not to worry about it. Doesn’t seem like a good idea. It might stoke anti-Tarrkuan sentiment and I wouldn’t want that to happen.”
Her words shocked him. Her opinion of the arrangement between their worlds had altered much from when he’d first met her. Conceited though it might be, he preferred to think he had something to do with her rapid change in opinion. A smile tugged at his lips when he recalled how angry and fierce she’d been when he captured her on the street.
“I am truly sorry for the difficulties you are facing with your family, my sweet bride.” He stroked her back, as well as her hair, hoping to soothe her. If he could take her pain on himself, he would do so in a heartbeat. “But I am pleased that all seems to be well with your brother. I would encourage you to maintain a relationship with him but perhaps keep some distance between you and your parents.”
“I was always most worried about Wilson and how our parents’ behavior affected him. It’s a huge relief to me that he’s doing well now. Soon, he’ll leave for Collumbra and I am certain he will thrive there.” She paused and drew in a deep breath. “I think you’re right, about putting distance between myself and my parents. I don’t hate them, and I truly do wish them happiness, but our relationship is always going to be complicated and strained. Perhaps it’ll be easier if I only speak with them once every few weeks, if they wish to talk to me, that is. But I won’t lie, it hurts to feel used and unwanted.”
“It is wise to set boundaries with individuals who cause you unhappiness, little human.” But as soon as the words escaped his lips, he regretted them. What if he caused her unhappiness? He had taken her away from the only home she’d ever known, and she had admitted that she’d never wished to be selected as a Tarrkuan bride.
Thankfully, her next words helped assuage this particular worry of his.
“We’ve only been married for a few weeks now, and before that we were complete strangers, yet I feel like I can talk to you about anything.” She smiled up at him, her blue eyes twinkling in the overhead lights. “Thank you,” she said, her voice cracking. “Thank you for helping me feel better. If you were cruel and pushed me away, or if you ignored me, I don’t think I could bear it.” She swallowed hard and blinked against a fresh sheen of tears. “For the first time in a long time, I feel wanted.”
He pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead, his heart filling with joy.
“I wanted you from the first moment I saw you,” he admitted. “Even before I knew you were a Tarrkuan bride, I wanted you as mine, Caylee. That will never change, and I will never push you away or ignore you, or treat you with cruelty. You’re my sweet mate and I shall treasure you. Always. Until the end of my days and even beyond.” He wiped at her tears and kissed her again.
Chapter 28
“We’ll reachXollnax early tomorrow morning,” Kazzon said as he guided her down the corridor, and his announcement caused Caylee’s stomach to flip.
She counted the days in her head and realized he was right, she’d simply lost track. Dread curled inside her, but she didn’t understand it. Kazzon had promised they wouldn’t remain on the planet for long. He’d even claimed he wouldn’t have to leave the ship, as Stonnas had promised to wait on the landing platform with his crew.
At first, she had been excited by the prospect of visiting an alien planet. But Kazzon’s behavior during the preceding days had set her on edge. He’d spent much of his time on the bridge and in engineering—the two locations on the ship she wasn’t permitted to explore. She had a sneaking suspicion his constant disappearances had something to do with their impending arrival on Xollnax, though she didn’t have any proof. Just a feeling. A very, very bad feeling.
Despite the worry that gnawed at her, she was careful to keep her face neutral and gave a slight nod after Kazzon’s announcement, not wanting him to detect any change in her mood. If he asked her if something was wrong, she couldn’t lie to him, and she had no doubt he would extract the truth from her in such a circumstance.
“I know you were hoping to get a good look at the Xollnaxian landscape,” he said, “and you will still be permitted to walk the corridors of the ship and gaze out all the viewscreens located at the ends of each corridor, but you will need to be quick about it, so you don’t miss anything.”
She forced a smile. “I’ll turn it into an early morning exercise,” she said, also forcing a chuckle, “running from one corner of the ship to another.”
He grinned down at her, his eyes twinkling. Guilt fell over her, because his smile looked genuine. Was it wrong to pretend nothing was wrong, just to avoid her mate’s prying questions?
She wished they didn’t have to stop on Xollnax and prayed they would suddenly get a message from Ambassador Stonnas with news that his ship was finally repaired and he no longer required rescue.
As they rounded a corner, Kazzon shifted beside her to grasp her hand. He laced his fingers through hers and gave her hand a gentle squeeze, gazing down at her with a tender look. Her heart brimmed with emotion. Though they hadn’t gotten married under the best of terms—at least from her point of view—true affection now existed between them. During the weeks spent aboard theCorrannelia, she had gotten to know him better and she enjoyed his company. She even missed him when he left her to attend to his duties on the ship.
But was it love?
Her face heated at the idea and flutters erupted in her tummy. She had never been in love, never even looked twice at another man. Well, not evenonceat another man. Human men didn’t tempt her in the slightest. But Kazzon—she craved him with everything inside her. She longed for his touch and ached for his kisses. Tingles swept through her as she imagined the evening to come. Every night, he claimed her at least twice. And that didn’t include all the extra activities they enjoyed in the bedroom—like the sexy playful spankings, the times he paid homage to her clit with his mouth, or when he forced her onto her knees so she might suck his cock.
“I can smell your arousal, little human,” came his deep, rumbling voice.
He paused in the corridor and turned her to face him, giving her a stern look.
“Tell me what you’re thinking about, Caylee.” He placed his lips to her ear, causing her to shiver at his nearness. His hot breath wafted against her cheek. “Tell me, or I will tug down your pants and spank you right here in the middle of this hallway.”
She gasped and reared back, regarding him with shock. “You wouldn’t dare! Someone might see!”
His eyes glinted with humor. “Do you wish to try me, little human? Perhaps we ought to test the acoustics in this corridor. I bet the entire ship would hear the resounding smacks of my hand hitting your bottom, echoing through the halls, as well as your whimpers and cries as you pleaded for mercy.”
