Page 117 of Exiles on Earth
“Right. But there’s no time.” All thoughts dash from my mind, just the rush of my lungs and the engines whirring to full power in my ears. The ship lurches, toppling my mate with a squeak, and I snatch her up, holding her close to my chest. I leap onto the bed and grip the bedpost with one arm to brace us, Gerverstock strength flashing through my body and scales hardening.
Except where El-len rests, because there, my scales yield. To her and only for her. I tuck her head against my neck with my chin, focusing on keeping us steady as the ship heaves from the ground, force pressing down on us as it shoots upward.
El-len’s arms band my chest, her strength adding to mine to hold her in place, her earthy scent winding around my senses. I immerse myself in my mate, here and now.
“We’re accelerating out of Olorian atmosphere,” I tell her.
“Heading for Earth at last.” Her breath catches, her breasts heaving against my chest as I pin her down against the ship's acceleration. Voice breaking, she says, “We haven’t really talkedabout what we’ll do, how we’ll live. The details we’ll work out as we go. You… you’ll have to hide, but not because I’m ashamed of you. I’m so, so proud of you, Ilia. I’m proud to be your mate.”
Capturing her lips with my own, I savor her sweet-salt tang, the most exotic adventure I've ever experienced. She yields, melting while she holds me tight, as if she’ll never let go.
As my lips stroke hers, fire builds deep in my chest. I am the first clone ever to be chosen and the first to be free to choose, to claim a mate of his very own. To think I’ve found boundless love as well is nothing short of a miracle.
All the things I’ve wanted to say pour out at once. I break our kiss to babble, "I was nearly mate-binding with you from the moment you rescued me from the bot, and there is no one else I would rather face this life with. I adore you, I admire you, I love you. I choose you again and again and again, El-len."
“I love you too, Ilia.” She arches her hips against mine just as the ship reaches its apex. It levels out in flight and we become weightless, floating together. Her legs wrap around my waist, arms sliding down my back, and her hair, for so long constrained in her braid, floats free to envelop me, as if every part of her embraces me.
I curl my arms around her, my mate, my very own, letting go of the bedpost to set both my hands on her ample glutes, handfuls that overspill my fingers in a lush bounty. From holding back my every desire, now I can’t stop telling her what I want, no, need. "I want to cover you with pleasure, make you scream my name as I make you come over and over again." Telling her what I want to do with her sets my tongue ablaze, as if I can already taste her.
It has the desired effect on her as well, and her gaze darkens while her strong thighs flex, pushing her sex against my already hardened cocks. “I want you too, but you got shot at and your arms looked like they were on fire. Are you okay?”
I quiver. This female undoes me with every word of concern shebestows upon me. “I’m more than okay, El-len. My nanites are feverishly repairing my muscles, and I scaled up to reduce the effect of the blast.”
Still, my caring mate touches my cheek, her eyes full of warmth. With the edge of the floating bedspread she brushes off the dirt and sweat from my scales with soft, gentle strokes. They shimmer silver with bliss, and then deepen into pink to match her lips.
Safe in her arms, I let myself finally relax. “El-len. My mate.”
“Ilia.” Letting go of the cloth, she drifts her hand down my neck, tracing the line of cracked scales ringing my throat. “I nearly lost you. I?—”
I turn my head to kiss her questing palm. “But you didn’t. You found me, you claimed me. And I couldn’t be happier. I want to be yours, El-len. I couldn’t bear being apart from you, offered to someone else. I want to mate bind with you. Now.”
Her breath catches. “What does that involve?”
Taking her same hand, I press it against my straining pants. “Completion. Together.”
She licks her lips, setting my scales off in a ripple down my throat and chest. "I want you, too. Every bit of you. Although… I… I’ve seen you, in the shower, you were so big. Maybe too big.”
"So thatwasyou." Is my mate afraid of my size? I run my lips along her neck and whisper a promise against her skin, "I don’t have to be inside you, El-len. There are many ways the vid training gave me for completion apart, as well as together.”
She quivers, chest teasing me with her panted breaths, and meets my eyes. She nods with her familiar resolve. “But I do want you inside me, Ilia.”
The bravery of my mate astounds me. “We’ll take it slow.”
A grin lights her face, the smile now familiar and etched into my hearts. “I know you won’t hurt me. You’ve always protected me.”
I will never ever take for granted her trust, her faith in me, or the simple pleasure of holding her in my arms.
I trace my hands up her dress, finding the open back, running my fingers over her soft skin. “We’ll do this together.”
“Like we’ll do everything together,” she promises, as fervent as a mating vow.
Two leaders, joining forever. We’ll be unstoppable in whatever challenges lie ahead.
She pulls her wraps forward, brushing the fabric over her arms. It unrolls in the air and I swipe it away to see her as she bares herself before me with each turn of the cloth. I help, gently unwrapping her like the most precious gift, and run my hands up her bare arms to her shoulders.
As she pushes the last of the fabric away, I cannot help but moan in the back of my throat. My hands skate over her collarbone and down the rise of her beautiful breasts crowned with rigid nipples.
“You’re beautiful,” I breathe. Bending my head, I worship her soft skin with my tongue, one eye on her reaction as I delicately lip her areola, tasting her at last.
