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Abby blushed. The walls were soundproof, thankfully. None of his grouping would hear them if they had sex.
They all finished eating, and Drak led her into his room before veering toward the shower. “I will be quick.”
She nodded, watching him enter the bathroom. It was tempting to follow him. She hesitated for about a minute before doing just that. The door wasn’t locked when she tested it. Water was already on in the shower, and Drak’s discarded clothing were on the floor.
“How do you feel about having me wash your back?”
He opened the shower door. “I would enjoy that.”
Her gaze left his to slowly travel down his wet, nude body. “You are so sexy, and your muscles have muscles.” She stared a little too long at his hardening shaft. “I get the full package with you, Drak.”
“Come in here with me.”
She quickly stripped and joined him. Drak slid his hands around her waist and lifted her, making her gasp in surprise when she found herself pinned against the wall. His mouth came down over hers, and she kissed him back. Her body responded full force, remembering exactly how good it would feel once he was inside her.
Abby moaned against his tongue and hiked her legs up, wrapping them around his waist. His wet flesh was a bit slippery, but Drak kept a firm hold on her, keeping her in place as they continued to kiss.
He finally broke away, both of them breathing heavily. “I want to take you on the bed. Not in here. Your skin is so delicate.”
“I don’t care! Take me now.”
He growled low. “Don’t tempt me to lose control, female.”
She smiled at him playfully. “But it would be fun.”
He gently lowered her down the front of him, and she dropped her chin, staring at his cock. He was big, thick…and her belly fluttered. “I want you so much right now.”
“I want you, too.”
She blindly reached for the body wash on a shelf and poured some in her hand. “At least let me take the edge off.”
“I don’t understand. By soaping me?”
“It’s lubrication.”
“I create my own.”
She hesitated, staring at his cock. Clear liquid came from the head of his shaft. She used a knuckle to gently brush against it. It felt slick as it coated her skin. She smiled. “Nice.”
She put the bottle back and rinsed her hand. Then she gently gripped his shaft. The clear liquid he created felt better than soap or lotion. To test it, she stroked her hands over his cock. He was right. There was no dry friction. A deep groan came from Drak and as she peered up at him, his emerald eyes narrowing into slits.
“You do make your own lubrication. That’s so cool.”
“Your hands are pleasingly soft.”
“Just wait.” She began to stroke him faster, slightly tightening her grip around the thick girth of his cock from top to bottom. He seemed to enjoy it, from the sounds he made.
Drak turned slowly and put his back against the wall, spreading his legs a little. She watched as his stomach tensed, the muscles bunching there in ripples. He had to be the sexiest man ever. Just looking at him, touching him, turned her on enough to ache painfully. She eased her hand to the base of his shaft, feeling something hard there.
Abby lowered to her knees.
Drak inhaled sharply, gasping. “What are you doing?”
“I’m getting to know you here, remember?” At that level, she could see what she’d touched. It fascinated her to see what he called a yunce. It was a slightly curved protrusion, a solid barrier that seemed to keep his balls and dick separated. She ran her fingertips over it. The texture was bumpy, the curve angled slightly toward his backside.
She slid her fingertip over the edge of it and came into contact with something large and warm, and knew that had to be his nuts.
Drak groaned. “Extremely sensitive. When I am aroused, I swell there, and my yunce separates. It’s the only time my seed sac is exposed.”
“Got it. I’ll be careful.”
He had one large ball. It did feel swollen, and really warm. Another yunce was behind it, also curved, but that one toward his front. Now she understood—when his ball wasn’t swollen, both of those pieces would totally cover it.
“I get what you mean now.”
He growled. “I’m about to lose control.”
She smiled, gripped his cock with both hands again, and slowly rose to her feet. Abby pressed up against him, trapping that hard length between their bodies as she stroked him. He definitely took two hands to jack off. At least with her hands.
He threw his head back, and his mouth opened as he began to purr deeply in his throat and chest, making that sound she loved. His shaft pulsed in her hands, growing even harder, and then he was coming. She looked down, watching as he did. It wasn’t clear, more of a white substance.
Drak suddenly pulled her hands off his shaft and stepped under the water. He pulled her in under the spray with him, washing his seed off them both.
“Bed now!” He snarled the words.
“Okay.”
“Go. I will wash fast. I want you on it with your legs spread.”
Abby didn’t need to be told twice. She’d gotten him off but she was hurting with need. She exited the shower, quickly dried off, and almost ran to the bed. Drak loved to take her bent over, so she grabbed a few of the pillows at the top of the mattress, dropped them on the floor beside it, and went to her knees. Then she leaned her chest onto the bed.
The water in the bathroom cut off. She hadn’t bothered to close the door. Drak came out seconds later, his hair still wet. She watched him from over her shoulder and loved the way he growled, passion clearly stamped on his features. He dropped down behind her, grabbed her hips, and shoved her a little higher onto the mattress. Then he was entering her.
She was wet and ready to take him.
Abby fisted the covers as he slowly thrust into her. Drak took his time working his way deeper inside her pussy, until that yunce thing was pressed against her clit. Then he began to fuck her fast and deep.
Moans tore from her throat. “Yes!”
“You are perfect,” Drak growled, pinning her under his bigger body, his lips pressed close to her ear. The deep purring in his chest started up, vibrating along her back. The climax built quickly, until she was screaming out his name.
He kept going, drawing out her extasy, until she came a second time. That’s when she felt him follow her. He lowered his head, his mouth pressing against her shoulder, and she felt the sharp points of his teeth bite down.
Abby jolted. He didn’t break skin—she hoped—but the nip was near painful.
He stilled over her, his shaft buried deeply inside her.
“Am I bleeding?” She really didn’t care much, since it didn’t hurt once his teeth released her skin.
“No. I apologize. I don’t know why I did that.”
She turned her head, catching her breath. “Do Veslors bite when they mate? Vivian didn’t mention that to me.”
He shook his head, holding her gaze. “We shift.”
That shocked her. “I thought you only did that if you wanted to have a cub.”
“It’s also how we mate. That is why only mated couples have cubs.”
She remembered him saying that on the shuttle when they’d first talked. “Oh.”
“I would have to shift to make you my mate.”
That scared her just a tiny bit. She hadn’t seen an adult Veslor shifted but she’d seen Klad since his birth. He was as cute as could be as an alien panther baby, but a full-sized one…she doubted Drak would look so adorable.
Drak adjusted his big body over hers, putting his face closer. “I wouldn’t hurt you.”
“Can I see you shifted? Um, while you’re not inside me?”
Conflict showed on his features. “We shift to protect ourselves. Aggression levels must be high to transform.” His gaze darted to her mouth. “Or to mate. It’s not something we do easily. Intense emo
tions motivate the shift.”
“I see.” She licked her lips.
“I want you to be my mate, Abby.”
“I need more time, Drak.”
She swore she saw pain flash in his eyes before he looked away. “I understand.” He slowly withdrew from her body, avoiding her gaze. “We should sleep.”
Abby climbed up on the bed, pulling back the covers and feeling guilty. Veslors weren’t human, and the two races did things very differently. She wished those differences didn’t hurt Drak, but something so serious as mating for life shouldn’t be rushed.
Drak walked into the bathroom and returned with a damp towel. She blushed a little when he cleaned between her thighs but didn’t protest. Then he stretched out on the bed beside her, opening his arms. “I want to hold you.”
She curled up against his side, using his chest as a pillow. “I’m not rejecting you, Drak. I swear. The whole shifted-sex thing is intimidating.”
“I understand. Humans consider it kinky.”
He was using the word she’d used before. “Yes.”
“I know you’re my mate, Abby.”
She nodded against him. “I’m falling in love with you, too.”
He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her even tighter against his side. “My heart and body already belong to you.”
He was an amazing guy. She knew that. He didn’t want her because she was a Thomas from D Corp. He thought she was sweet, when everyone else considered her a total bitch. He was even admitting he loved her, Veslor style. And the sex was amazing.
She also knew he’d risk his life for hers. He already had when he’d jumped into that Cadia hole to go after her on the planet surface.
“Just…give me a little more time.”
“I would give you anything, my Abby.”
She closed her eyes, listening to his steady heartbeat under her ear. “Sleep, big guy. You must be exhausted.”
“I have another shift this evening. We’re protecting the colonists when the sun goes down. I might not return until the sun rises in the morning if many of them attack again.”
Dread pitted in her stomach.
“I will be safe, my Abby. The walls around the settlement are high. We are top of them. We take out the Cadia before they can hit.”
“I’m always going to worry about you.”
“I like that you do, but I’m a fighting Veslor.”
That did help. “You’re a total badass.”
He chuckled. “I am tough.”
“Sleep.” She yawned. “I’m tired, too.”
Chapter Fourteen
Abby had set up a workstation on the desk in Drak’s bedroom after he left for his evening shift to protect the colonists. The hours passed slowly. She answered all the messages that Mel had sent from D Corp, before placing a long-distance call. It took nearly half an hour to get it to go through to the Brar trading vessel, but then Vivian’s smiling face filled the screen.
“Abby!”
“I’m so glad we could actually speak this time and not have to leave messages for each other.”
“Did you get my last one?”
“You’re pregnant again. Congratulations!”
“Thank you. We’re all so excited. Klad doesn’t really understand yet but he will once he has a sibling to play with.”
“I know exactly what that requires now.”
Vivian arched her eyebrows.
“Shifted sex,” Abby whispered, winking at her.
Her friend blushed. “Yes.”
“Brave girl.”
Vivian laughed. “I have a mega-hot mate. Brassi could talk me into anything. And obviously, I really mean that. So, how is your mission going? What are the Veslors like? The guys said fighters tend to be loners. They aren’t supposed to be the friendliest of Veslors. Probably because of the high levels of aggression they have to have in that line of work. I’m hoping the human crew on Defcon Red is behaving, or at least too scared to give them any shit.”
“There’s been a few issues but things are better now.”
“I’m glad you decided to go there, then. I thought you were a little nuts. I mean, you have a job already. Being a personal assistant to a commander must be boring for you. I’m not a big fan of higher-ups, though, after what happened with Alderson.”
“I know Howard, remember? He’s not a douche. It’s how I got the job. He knew my parents before they were even married.”
“Right. I remember. What kind of issues arose?”
“That’s not why I called. I can handle assholes. I need answers, instead.”
“Okay.” Vivian looked curious as she leaned closer. “What’s up?”
“His name is Drak. He’s one of the Veslors—and we’re together.”
Excitement had Vivian grinning and bouncing in her seat. “That’s so cool! Tell me everything!”
“You know these calls don’t last long. Especially when satellites get misaligned. I’ll send you a longer message later detailing how we met and stuff. Right now, I have questions and I’m desperate for your help. Drak is great…but he wants to mate me.”
“Wow! That’s terrific! Did you say yes? Veslors are amazing! I told you that you should hook up with one. I just hoped it would be with someone in Brassi’s grouping so we could live together.”
“Well, sorry about that. I’m totally into Drak. He said he needs to shift for us to become mates. I’m a little freaked out about that, Vivian. How was it? Did it hurt? Was Brassi rough? God…I have so many questions!”
“Brassi would never hurt me. Even shifted. I get why you’re hesitant to attempt it, though. Plus, some people—and by that, I mean humans—would be horrified if they ever found out how Veslors mate. Can you say bestiality? I’m sure most would. I mean, they’re aliens. Not animals. But still. Some people are set in their thinking.”
“That’s not helping me, Vivian.”
“Sorry.” Her friend sighed. “I got pregnant with Klad when I mated Brassi. That’s something I’ve learned. Human birth control doesn’t work with them when they’re shifted. Super seed. It plants deep.” She reached down and touched her belly. “Both times we did it while Brassi was shifted, boom, I got pregnant.”
Abby softly cursed. “I’m not ready to have a cub yet. I want to spend time with Drak first and enjoy being a couple before adding to our family.”
“It’s a scent thing that happens when they’re shifted. Like their seed not only impregnates you, but it kind of does something to change your DNA or something.”
That news floored her.
“Not that I can shift now or grow any extra hair. Nothing weird. But everyone says after we mated, they could tell just by smelling me. Like my body screamed ‘belongs to Brassi’ and ‘smells just like him.’”
“Got it.”
“But expect to get knocked up.” Vivian rubbed her belly again. “As I said, super seed. They aren’t fertile on two legs, but shifted, it’s like they become baby machines if they have sex in that form.”
Abby frowned. “This isn’t the news I wanted to hear.”
“Better to be forewarned and all that, am I right? Klad was a great surprise for me, but I’d lost my job and, well…I was excited to become a mom once the shock wore off and I realized Brassi wasn’t upset. He was even more excited than I was.”
Motion from the corner of the screen drew Abby’s attention. Her gaze shifting away must have alerted Vivian. She turned her head. “Hey, just the male I wanted to see. Get over here, Vassi.” She faced the screen. “He’s a medic and knows about all things Veslor. Obviously.”
Vassi crouched down next to Vivian and smiled. “Hello, Abby Thomas. Are you on your way to visit us?”
“No, sorry. I’m dating a Veslor and reached out to Vivian for answers to some of my questions.”
Vassi’s eyes widened. “One of the fighters?”
“Yes.”
He scowled. “They don’t form bonds with females. Avoid the male.”
Surprise widened Vassi’s eyes even farther, until he looked almost comical.
“I don’t want to get pregnant right now, though. Is there any way to mate without the shifted sex? Vivian just told me it’s a done deal if we do so, and it’s how your kind form a mating bond. Is there another option?”
Vassi was quiet a moment, seeming to think. “You could go to a medic to be sterilized.”
Abby shook her head. “I want to have children. Just not right now.”
“Understood.” He rubbed his jaw. “Some of our couples who wish to mate but hold off on having cubs live together. It’s rare, but there have been cases. Males have scented females until they physically completed the mating. It appeased the male’s urges enough to help him be patient, and let other males knew she was his.”
Abby was relieved at the idea of having an option. “Scented?”
Vassi glanced at Vivian.
“Just tell her. It’s Abby. She won’t freak out if it’s something weird. Be blunt.”
Vassi met her gaze. “Males leave their seed on the females’ thighs, and rub their body against her until she smells strongly of him.”
“Oh.” Abby laughed. “Got it.”
“The female carries his scent that way. It fools other males into believing she’s his mate. It also appeases the urge to complete the mating for the male, since she strongly scents of him.”
“Thank you.” Abby meant it. “I would be okay with that. I’m just not ready for a cub. Yet. I plan to have some, though. Maybe in a year. Call me selfish, but I want time with Drak before we add to our family.”
“You’re a workaholic,” Vivian playfully accused. “Admit it. The idea of having a baby with all the things you juggle would be rough. I mean, you said you’re still working for D Corp while you’re on Defcon Red, doing whatever you’re doing there.”
“That too,” Abby had to admit.
Vivian suddenly frowned. “What are your parents going to think about Drak? I mean, they’ve groomed you your entire life to take over the company, right? Is Drak willing to move to Earth? What about his grouping? I told you they come as a package deal.”