Page 21 of Tornn's Mate
And suddenly all my memories fall back into place.
I inhale a shuddering breath as I slowly turn to face Tornn. He has one arm draped over me, and as I face him, he makes a pleased growling sound in his sleep and pulls me closer.
We’re married. Mated. Whatever you want to call it.
In his culture, I belong to him. Possibly forever. I don’t know for certain, but I don’t think Darrvoson couples ever split up. The wordmatesounds very permanent. My heart races with panic, but I force in a few deep breaths and soon start to feel calmer. Maybe it’s because my alien husband appears so peaceful while he’s sleeping. He looks younger, the lines and angles of his face less severe.
I take a moment to study the strange glowing symbols that cover his upper chest. They remind me of the symbols in theHaxxal’sdocking tunnel. To my surprise, as I stare at the markings on Tornn’s muscular chest, my upper arms began to itch and tingle. I scratch my arms until the discomfort fades.
My gaze travels to my mate’s sensuous lips, and heated tremors besiege me as I recall all the times he’d kissed me throughout the night. His kisses had made me feel drunk and breathless and achy.
After watching Tornn for a few seconds and ensuring he’s truly asleep, I lift the covers and peer at his male equipment. His two shafts are flaccid but still huge, and his scrotum is a big, textured round thing nestled under his appendages. His nether area is completely hairless, just as mine is.
About a week before we left theJansonna, all the brides were encouraged to receive permanent hair removal treatments on our legs, nether area, and under arms. I wonder if the aliens requested it, or if the command team simply thought it would make us look more appealing to the Darrvasons.
I reach between my thighs and marvel at the smoothness. I’m still not used to it, and a flush covers my face as I recall how my bareness had heightened my sense of exposure while I was draped over Tornn’s knee.
There’s a growing ache inside me that’s tinged with the pleasant soreness that comes from being thoroughly ravished. I almost moan when my fingers brush over my clit, but I stop myself just in time. I cast a worried look at Tornn but breathe a sigh of relief to find he’s still sleeping.
I’m glad I woke up before him. After all that happened last night, I like having a few minutes to myself to collect my thoughts.
HowdoI feel, anyway?
Not terrible, I decide after a contemplative moment.
More than anything, I’m surprised by Tornn. There’s definitely a savage side to him, and he’s bossy as hell, but I don’t get the sense that he’s cruel. At least not when it comes to me.
He’d seemed angry when I confessed the threats my uncle had leveled against me and my family. But he wasn’t angry with me. Instead, his fury was directed toward Captain Warren. And now he would ensure my uncle didn’t harm the families of the Darrvason brides.
Relief and gratitude swell in my heart. Mom and Jenny will be okay. My uncle won’t be able to reduce their rations or withhold medical care or evict them from their quarters. I gaze at Tornn, my throat burning with emotion. His promise to keep them safe means the universe to me.
I pray this compassionate act will be the first of many. If he shows me kindness on occasion, perhaps I won’t be so miserable living among his people. Perhaps I won’t constantly be heartsick over missing my family and Nathan.
There’s no going back. No returning to my old life. So, I might as well try to make the best of my circumstances. Will it be possible to find happiness as a Darrvason bride?
I still have so many questions about the aliens’ way of life. Like what rights (if any) do I have as a human female living among Tornn’s people. How their children are raised. Where their homeworld is located. How long their lifespan is. My mind swirls as more questions surface, including whether or not I’ll be allowed to have a job.
We’d stayed awake long into the night, but we hadn’t done much talking. Unless Tornn’s dirty talking counts. Warmth quakes in my center as I recall his naughtiest comments.
So slick and pink and wet. I cleaned you off moments ago, yet your private parts are already gleaming under a fresh sheen of your arousal.
That’s right, sweet human, your pussy belongs to me. Now, bend over the bed and spread your legs wide. I intend to make use of my property.
I’m naked under the covers. He won’t permit me to wear clothing in bed, insisting that I will always sleep in the nude because he wants easy access to my nether parts. As I wiggle around a bit, I feel the slickness of my arousal gathering between my thighs. I instantly yank my hand away.
My stomach flips, and I try very hard to stop entertaining impure thoughts… I don’t want my scent to wake him up. Furthermore, the idea of him opening his eyes and immediately detecting my arousal fills me with shame. I can’t help it. The idea that sex is an indecent, barbaric act was instilled in me at an early age.
I glance around the bedroom for anything resembling a clock but don’t see one. But it feels late in the morning, and a sense of wrongness falls over me that I’m still abed.
If I were still on theJansonna, I would probably be getting ready for a day of teaching alongside my mother. Most education courses are self-guided, but we offered in-person lectures on the History of Earth and Humankind. The classes are on hold for the foreseeable future—my mother wanted to take a leave of absence after my departure.
My heart sinks. I worry she’s mourning my loss as though I’ve died. She never quite recovered from the loss of my father and it’s a cruel twist of fate that I would be ripped away from her only two years later. I hope Jenny can bring her comfort.
Thankfully, my eighteen-year-old sister is strong. She’s one of those people who always knows the right thing to say, and whenever there’s a crisis, she’s quick to jump into action. She’s also perpetually cheerful and never complains about anything, not even reduced ship-wide rations, cold water, or the freezing temperatures that often plague our shared quarters.
I send up a silent prayer of thanks that Jenny is too young to be selected as a Darrvason bride. But a second later, a terrible thought enters my mind.
She’ll be nineteen in less than a year. What if it takes longer than that for the aliens to guide us to a habitable planet? It’s possible Jenny might turn nineteen before we’re settled on a new world, which means she could end up in the final group of brides.
