Page 14 of Warrin
To her shock, he scooped her up in his arms and rose to his feet.“I will carry you to your quarters and tuck you in.”He leaned down, nuzzling his nose to hers, then carried her into the corridor.
Chapter8
The door zippedopen upon his approach, and Warrin carried Elora inside the guest quarters he’d so carefully prepared for her.She sighed in his arms and snuggled deeper into his chest, and his heart raced at having her so close.His cock remained hard as ever, and he tried to ignore his growing desire as he brought her to the bed.He shifted her into one arm, then reached for the covers to pull them back.He set her on the bed and immediately reached for her shoes, slipping them off and placing them neatly on the floor.
He peered down at her as she wiggled under the covers, wishing he could join her in bed.But he worried it wouldn’t be appropriate since they hadn’t consummated their union yet.If he was being honest, he also feared her rejection.
He helped her finish pulling the blankets over herself, then settled on the edge of the bed.Her head tilted to the side, and she covered another yawn.She regarded him with a heavy-lidded gaze.His spirits rose when her lips curved with a tiny smile.
“Thank you, Warrin.”She emitted a dreamy sigh.“Oh, this is the most comfortable bed I’ve ever lain on.”
It pleased him to see her looking so relaxed, and he found himself reaching for her hair, eager to caress her soft locks.She closed her eyes, sighed again, and leaned into his touch.Warmth flowed through him, waves of affection that knew no bounds.It was startling—the depth of emotion he already felt for this tiny human female.
“Get some rest, little sarr’ahh.Sleep for as long as you wish.”
Her eyes fluttered open, though they remained heavy-lidded.“Okay.Thanks again, Warrin.I-I appreciate you taking care of me.”
“You’re my soon-to-be mate, Elora,” he said, still stroking her hair.“It is my privilege to take care of you.”
Her eyes suddenly gleamed with moisture, and she blinked fast.“Is it true...?”she asked faintly, clearly on the verge of sleep.
“Is what true, my little mountain flower?”
“Is it true that Vaxxlian males never cheat on their mates?”she asked.“Or is that just propaganda your people use to try to convince human females to sign up for the VAMOB program?”
“It is true.”He shifted to cup her face, and she leaned further into his touch.
“Oh.Well, that is a relief.I-I am glad.”
The soft sighs that kept leaving her brought him hope—because he suspected she was starting to become more comfortable around him.He prayed it was the beginning of trust.
Her eyelids grew heavier, and eventually she drifted off as he continued cupping her face and allowing his thumbs to trail over her cheeks.Her breathing gradually slowed, her chest rising and falling with the steady rhythm of sleep.
A loose strand of hair slipped across her cheek, and he brushed it away, careful not to wake her.Plenty of work awaited him on the bridge—routine system analyses and monitoring the status of the blockade—but he couldn’t seem to pull himself from her side.In sleep, all the tension melted from her face, and she looked so peaceful it made his heart ache.
In a hushed whisper, he issued a command to the ship’s computer, ordering the lights to be dimmed.Then he continued watching her.He gently caressed her hair, and she snuggled closer and draped an arm over his thigh.His cock pulsed and his blood heated, though he made no move to join her under the covers.
After learning of the hardships—and the heartbreak—she’d recently endured, more than anything, he wanted her to feel safe, cherished, and valued.Being given the opportunity to rest was important.The nanobots would accelerate her recovery and eventually reduce her need for sleep, just as they had for him.Even so, natural rest remained a necessary part of healing—for physical ailments as well as those of a more personal nature.
He couldn’t say how long he remained seated next to her, but he stayed there, stroking her tresses for what felt like ages.Each time she sighed in her sleep or murmured something unintelligible under her breath, he delighted at how sweet, peaceful, and innocent she looked.And beautiful.
He thought of the male from Oakdale she’d almost married—the vile rodent who’d never showed up on their wedding day.Rage simmered inside him, the urge to seek vengeance on her behalf burning hot.Not just because the male had coldly broken her heart, but because the man had also tried to frame her for a crime she hadn’t committed.
He couldn’t fathom a Vaxxlian male cheating on his intended mate, firing the female from her job, and then trying to have the woman wrongly arrested.Learning how abysmally Elora’s former fiancé had treated her came as a complete culture shock to Warrin.Though they weren’t yet mated, he could not imagine betraying her in such a way.Everything inside him ached to protect her and see to her happiness.
A brief glance at his wrist comm confirmed the blockade was still in place.He suppressed a growl.He wanted to take his little sarr’ahh away from Earth as soon as possible.Not just because he believed this planet to be unsafe, but because he hoped that the distance from Earth would help her heal from the heartbreak she’d endured at her former fiancé’s hands.
She hadn’t explicitly stated that she’d been in love with the male, but it was his understanding that most human couples got married for love.Had she loved her former fiancé?Did part of her love him still?Jealousy flared in his chest.He couldn’t help it.His possessiveness for Elora seemed to grow with each passing moment.
The idea of her looking at any other male with affection in her heart filled him with darkness… and a covetous fury he didn’t know what to do with.He took a few deep breaths and quickly reminded himself that he had no right to judge any part of Elora’s life—her previous romantic partners should not matter to him.
She’d agreed to become his mate, and he was certain she would eventually surrender to the passion coursing through her veins and announce she was ready to consummate their union.
Despite her nervous hesitation, she desired him.There was no denying it.He’d detected the slickness between her thighs many times—usually when he was touching her.
The last of his jealousy burned away, and he took a full breath as he continued petting her hair.They’d both endured difficulties in life—and darkness.And now, they needed one another.He needed a mate for companionship and procreation, while she needed the protection of a strong male and a safe place to live.Together, they would both start their lives anew.He prayed they would find true happiness… and love.
She mumbled something in her sleep, a faint whisper in English that he didn’t quite catch, then sighed softly and rolled onto her side, facing away from him.Suddenly, she kicked at the blankets, and they went flying down to her knees.Then she reached for the fastening of her pants and started pushing them down her body.
