Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 50815 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50815 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 169(@300wpm)
“Thank you,” she whispered, stroking his cheek. “Do…do you want me to return the favor?”
He shook his head and came up to settle beside her in bed and gathered her into his arms.
“No, just let me hold you for tonight. We have a long journey tomorrow. The Primus Nine system is in a whole different galaxy from your own.”
“Then we’d better get some sleep, I guess.” Nora surprised herself by yawning. “Oh…I’m so tired all of a sudden!”
Xarex’s silver eyes were suddenly soft.
“You came hard tonight, ellana,” he murmured, stroking her cheek. “Of course you’re worn out. Just relax against me and let yourself sleep. I swear I’ll guard your dreams.”
“Mmm…all right then,” Nora sleepily agreed.
Deciding that she would worry about everything tomorrow, she let herself relax against the big, muscular body that was cradling hers and, faster than she would have believed possible, drifted off to sleep.
14
XAREX
Xarex held his new bride close, and sent silent thanks to the Goddess that Nora was still willing to trust him, even after what had almost happened both in the shower and just now when he was tasting her.
His W’rx side had already been close to the surface and he’d been fighting to keep it from coming out as she pulled his hair and moaned his name. But when he felt her coming for him and her pussy got even wetter as he licked her, it had been simply too much!
The W’rx half of him had been urging him to take her—to flip her over into breeding position and thrust his cock to the hilt in her tight little pussy. It had been all he could do to resist the violent urge, knowing that Nora would be hurt if he took her so roughly.
I have to do a better job controlling myself, he thought as he stroked her back and cradled her against him. She’s so small—so delicate. I can’t treat her like a W’rx would treat his mate!
This had never been a problem in the past. The unfortunate thing about having a broken emotion damper was that he couldn’t control what emotions he had. Even the violent lust from his W’rx side broke through.
Well, he would have to be careful to keep it contained, Xarex told himself. He would rather die himself than hurt the curvy little female who was sleeping so peacefully against his side. And probably he should get rid of the ropes he’d bought to tie her with. It was too bad, but he was afraid if he bound as his W’rx side wanted to, he might lose control and take her too roughly. No, it was better to just forget the bondage part of his fantasies.
That was all right, though—as long as he had Nora, he didn’t mind foregoing some of the sexual experiences he’d fantasized about. Having her near him, safe in his arms, was worth much more than any cheap gratification he might find in acting out his crudest desires.
He looked down at her, sleeping so peacefully in his arms. Her long brown hair was spread like a silken waterfall across his chest and her face was lovely and serene. It made his heart squeeze almost painfully to see how she trusted him enough to be completely vulnerable with him.
Xarex didn’t know the name of the emotion that was flooding him—it felt like a mixture of the need to protect and the desire to keep her close—but he knew it was the right feeling to have. Not the ravenous, mindless lust that had reared its ugly head in the shower.
I’ll be more careful, he promised himself as he savored the sweet, secret flavor of his honey, still on his lips. I won’t hurt her, no matter how strong the W’rx lust gets! And I’ll never tie her down—it wouldn’t be safe.
Still promising himself to work on his self-control, he finally drifted off to sleep with his new bride cradled against him.
15
NORA
“There it is—Primus Nine,” Xarex rumbled, pointing to the lush green world spinning in the center of the long-range shuttle’s viewscreen.
“Oh—it’s beautiful.” Nora thought it looked like a jewel floating in the velvet blackness of space. “Will we get there soon?”
“Very soon,” Xarex promised. “I have the landing coordinates they sent when Commander Sylvan called to ask permission for us to come and try for the Flower of Healing.”
“I hope we can get it!” Nora couldn’t keep the anxiety out of her voice. She was still emotional about having to leave her daughter for a time to go get the flower. But her mother was with Anna and Dr. Olivia—who had told Nora to just call her “Liv”—had promised to check on her twice a day for as long as they were gone. She had also given Nora’s mother a Think-me—a silver wire band that fit like a crown on the wearer’s head and made mental communication possible.