Page 16 of Saving Lauren

I slowly walk towards him, and he freezes in place, his tail twitches as I get closer. I look at him, my unspoken question in my eyes and he nods. I place my hand on his chest, he feels so warm. His skin is soft like velvet and his muscles are hard underneath.

“Your tattoos are beautiful," I murmur and then I look up at him. “What do they mean?”

He takes my hand and places it on his left upper arm.

“The first markings go here. It’s when a male gets to adulthood. Then with the passing of the trials the markings multiply.” And his big hand is guiding mine over the pattern of thick black lines on his upper arm. When we reach the last one, he places my hand on his chest.

“The markings on the chest start when you enter your first battle. Each battle is represented and each win deserves a special marking," he says while skidding my fingers across his chest. He pauses when he moves my hand to his right arm.

“These are for the Warriors we lost. It is not an equal representation because of the destruction, but we keep those who fell in mind and honor them like this, so we never forget.”

I caress the lines almost automatically and I swallow. He is so close, and the intimacy of this moment is crackling in the air. My hands move of their own accord and now they are both on his chest. My right hand is slowly moving up to his shoulder and I touch his braid. He pulls it forward and his hair is so soft.

“L’Ren,” he whispers with a restrained voice, and I feel his tail brushing my ankles. I hold my breath, it feels like I am bursting. His tail slowly makes his way up my leg, and his hand caresses my cheek. I let out a soft moan, but immediately feel embarrassed by it. I need to pull myself together, I swallow and step back. Blushing heavily.

“I’ll go use the bathroom now,” I whisper, escaping into the safety of it.

My chest is heaving when I look into the mirror. I barely recognize myself. My cheeks are flushed, but my eyes are sparkling. My hair is braided like something out of an old Shakespeare movie. It lies atop my hair like a crown and ends in one braid across my right shoulder. I aged a lot the past years, I contemplate, as I study myself for a moment. I think six years have passed since I was taken at 22, but I look at least ten years older now. I shrug and let it go. Time to use the bathroom, then go back out to that gorgeous, big alien out there who promised to tell me all about mates.

CHAPTER 9

D’Var

L’Ren all but fled to the bathroom and I am glad for it. Her careful touches stirred my body to life. I do not want to face her, with a cock hard as steel; I am a bit embarrassed by it. Maybe I should not have changed out of my leathers, it would have been far less obvious than in these sleeping pants.

I pace the room, not sure what to do with myself. Should I lie down on the bed? I have been putting off this conversation, because I am afraid she will reject me. But also, because telling her about what she means to me is a special and intimate thing, and I really want to be holding her when she finds out.

I decide if I want any control in the outcome, I should take the lead, so I install myself on the bed. My heart is beating rapidly, I have no clue what to do with my hands. I try putting them behind my head, but that feels way too frisky, so I settle on folding them atop my stomach.

L’Ren comes back into the room. I see she has a nervous gleam in her eyes. They dart through the room, like she doesn’t quite know what to do with herself as well.

“Come sit with me," I ask her, as I extend my hand. She hesitates briefly, but then I see a determined look in her eyes. She crawls onto the bed next to me and I pull her into my arms easily.

“Is this okay?” I ask her. “Can I hold you while we talk?”

She nods. “Yes,” she says. Her voice sounds raspy, so I hand her a water bottle, she smiles and takes a sip. When she is tucked back at my side, I begin.

“We believe that the First Warriors came to the planet of Arracate, a long, long time ago. We do not know where they came from, but we do know they were the fiercest of the Warriors that have ever lived. Arracate was inhabited by a local people and legend says the Chief of the First Warriors felt a pull towards the daughter of the planet’s king. She was his destined Mate. Her name was Zarra.” I watch L’Ren’s expression closely, she is looking at me, as if she is studying my face. My need to touch her is overwhelming, I pull her in a little closer, rubbing circles on her back as I continue.

“The king made him prove his worth by putting him through a number of trials. In the end he was proven worthy and was permitted to take Zarra as his mate. The other Warriors stayed with him on the planet, and in time they all found their mates and had young with them. The children of the First Warriors were Warriors themself. They did not look like their mothers at all, and they were all male. The Chief claims the stars spoke to him in a sacred place in the mountains of Arracate. They told him that the Warriors of Arracate would be a special race, destined to protect the more vulnerable civilizations from other races that would mean them harm. They were destined to fly out into space to lend aid wherever they went. As a reward they would find their mates, their true mates among those other races. They would know it was their mate because they would feel a pull. Drawn to them even before they would lay eyes on them.”

I pause, unsure how to continue. How do I put into words what she means to me?

I feel a gentle hand on my face then and I look at her.

“You have called me your Zarra,” she says. It’s not in an accusatory way, she just states it.

I nod. “Over time, the name Zarra has become special, one you would only use to address your mate.” I stay silent. My hand softly caressing her side, stroking up and down.

“I felt it, the minute we entered the space station. A pull, a knowing. It is centered deep inside me. I instantly knew exactly where to go. When I saw you, sitting there with that defiant look in your eyes I knew it was you. You are my mate, L’Ren. From the moment I saw you, my heart only beats for you.”

She gasps, when I look at her there are tears in her eyes. Her hand is still touching my cheek, I revel in the touch and the feel of her skin on mine. A tear, slipping out of her eye and moving across her cheek. I brush it off with a swipe of my thumb; she grabs my wrist, keeping my hand connected with her cheek. There’s a world of emotions swirling in her eyes, she is struggling to find her words, so I help her.

“You do not have to say anything. I know it is a lot to take in. You did not ask for this. I hope you are not disappointed by me. I know I can make you happy and keep you safe. I…”

She cuts off my rambling by moving up and launching herself into my arms. Holding onto me, hugging me tightly for the longest time. And I, I hold her right back and breathe. Just enjoying the peace of holding my mate in my arms.

Lauren

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