Page 17 of Saving Lauren

I hold on tight. This big warrior alien is… mine? I mean, if I am his mate, he is just as much mine, I would think?

I feel kind of embarrassed for essentially jumping on him. It’s just. Everything he said made so much sense. It explains everything. The way I am gravitating towards him, the way I feel strangely safe with him.

The freaking galaxy has not been kind to me these past years, so yes. I am choosing to believe every word he says, to believe in this crazy feeling, this attraction that makes me so confused.

When he began doubting me, doubting if I would be okay with this, I could only think of flinging myself into his arms.

I lighten my tight grip on his neck and release him. I sit back on my knees, and I am a little bit afraid to look at him. I bite my lip. It feels like I made a strangely bold move, and I am a bit scared of what he’ll do or how he will react to it.

“I like you, D’Var," I say, looking up, deciding it’s time to be bold. I don’t know the proper response to ‘my heart only beats for you’, so I just go with my feelings.

“I really like being with you, talking to you, I feel like, even in these two days since you rescued me, you have given me little pieces of myself back, I thought I had lost forever. I don’t think I can comprehend what this all means, but I like you. And if you say I feel the way I do, because we are mates, then I am going to accept that.”

I stop to take a breath, but it catches in my throat at the sight of his radiant smile. All his casual laid back attitude is gone, he is sitting up, beaming at me. I sigh and smile back.

He reaches over with his big hand and takes my hand in his. “You like me,” he says.

I nod. “I like you.”

His thumb caresses my wrist, looking at me conflicted. “Can I touch you? I would like to hold you?” he asks, and it feels like this is something he desperately needs and that he’s afraid I’ll say no.

“Yes, you can," I say. And I want to say more, but he is already lifting me up and tucking me into his embrace again. And I give in. His touch is calming. It makes me feel safe and when he holds me like this, I feel loved. And I start to cry again. Big ugly tears this time and I feel my body shaking.

“I’m sorry,” I sob. “I don’t want to be this person who cries all the time, but I had to be so strong for so long and hide my feelings. Now you say all those things to me and when you hold me tight, I feel safe. I finally feel safe.”

He tilts my chin and brushes my tears from my cheeks. “You can sob on me anytime, L’Ren,” he states. I can see he is trying to lighten the mood for me.

I give him a wobbly smile. “What happens next? You know with this whole mating thing?”

He hands me the bottle of water and I take a large gulp. He puts the bottle away. Pulling me against him once more, and I feel his tail gently placing itself across my leg, like every part of him needs to touch me.

“When a Warrior finds his Zarra, he must claim her. When he has claimed his mate, and their bond is complete, they are forever bound to each other. The bond is unbreakable, and they become one on a spiritual level.”

I blink and I push myself off his hard chest. “Claiming?” I ask. If this is like in the romance novels I used to love back on earth, I don’t know what I think about that.

D’Var is serious as he nods and looks at me. “Claiming is an important part of completing the bond. A Warrior’s seed inside his mate’s body will form their spiritual bond.”

All the color is leaving my face. Claiming is not something that is on my mind. If you had asked me before, I would say that I never ever wanted to have sex again, now I am not sure if I am even capable. What if I freeze, or worse, scream, or what if I just plain can’t.

“D’Var….” I begin, but he cuts me off.

“Claiming will happen, when it will happen. I am in no rush, just having you near me, being able to care for you, to protect you, that is all I could ever ask of you. We either will get there, or we will not. We take your path, on your time.” He caresses my cheek and I lean into the touch. Afraid it’s all I will ever be able to give him.

“I believe in us. The stars would not have guided me to you, if you were not the one I needed.” Then he grins his sexy smile.

“I will not lie. I find you the most beautiful woman I have ever met, and just the feeling of your fingers on my skin made my cock harder than it has ever been.”

I choke. “D’Var!” I chastise him. “You can’t say those things!”

“But they are true,” he winks. And then it hits me, he is teasing me to make me forget all my worries and anxiety .

CHAPTER 10

Lauren

Iwake up feeling warm again and I realize I fell asleep in D’Var’s arms. I push myself up a bit to look at him, he’s still sleeping. I close my eyes and lay my head on his chest. I hear his steady breathing and I revel in his warmth. I really, really like it when he holds me. Now I understand why. I feel well rested and do not think I had a nightmare last night.

I snuggle closer to him and while I do, my hand slips over his abdomen touching his abs. My fingers seem to have a mind of their own and they explore the hard ridges of his muscles. I sigh. Then I hear D’Var moan. I stop my secret exploring, but then I feel his hand roaming my back. I stiffen at first, but then I relax and when I stop moving my hand, he stops moving his. I smile.

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