Page 12 of K'Vella

"Invite me into the nest, K'Vella," I say, the growl coming through with way more authority than it should. My only saving grace is that it doesn't affect K'Vella in the same way it would a Rytharian.

It does have an impact on her, though. A terrible one. It makes her want to tease me more.

"Holoth," K'Vella says my name like I'm a child getting in trouble, and it has me baring my teeth at her. "That's not very kind."

"Invite me into the nest, and I'll be so kind," I snarl.

My body tenses even more as she shifts her body around, leaning closer to one side. I can't help but crawl over to that spot on the nest's border in an attempt to get close to her.

I pace the nest on my hands and knees like a caged animal. Instead of wanting out, I want in. I want it so bad it's starting to burn me from the inside out.

"I have a few questions first." K'Vella crawls to the far side of the nest and smiles to herself when I follow.

"Ask them," I snap, my hands pressing into the ground so hard that my knuckles are white.

I want to reach out to her, but this is part of the fun of playing games with a female. If we were on my planet, maybe I would get her to run from me so I could chase her down and take her out in the open. I think she'd enjoy that, especially since she seems to enjoy taunting me. She looks strong enough to run for a long time without tiring. A shiver runs down my spine at the idea.

"Do you know how to pleasure a Varon female?"

Her question catches me off guard, but the flush in my cheeks is the only way she'll know I'm embarrassed. I'd chew off my foot if it meant I'd get to be in the nest with her. I have no issues answering these questions when this lost to my rut.

"I became acquainted last night, same as you," I say, my eyes not leaving hers.

She might think she has the upper hand in this interaction, but I'm still the predator here. She'll be my prey. I need to be patient, and she'll be mine.

"I only want a baby out of these encounters," she says, her lusty look turning almost ashamed as she says it. "I don't want you to worry about me being here for anything more."

"I can put a babe in you," I growl, "But not from out here."

"I'm serious." Her lower hands find her hips as she stares me down. My cock swells at the defiance in her pose. I want to see if I can soften it, tame it, and make her submit underneath me.

"So am I."

"No relationship, no feelings, just unprotected sex."

I snarl at her, my teeth snapping once as my growl fills the room. I'm reacting too harshly to her stipulations, but I can't stop it. I don't want to think about this ending before I've even shared a nest with her.

"We'll discuss it after my rut."

"No, this is something I need to make clear right now."

K'Vella's jaw ticks, and I realize she's thinking about calling this whole thing off if I don't agree with her. This is why she should've done more research into who she was having breed her. My kind is possessive when we find something or someone we want.

Turns out I want K'Vella.

"Then I will make it clear." My voice is hard as I sit back on my heels so I'm no longer pacing the perimeter of the nest. It physically hurts because, more than anything, I want to be as near to her as possible. "I'll get you round with my young as often as you want, but you will not keep me from them. You want a male to discard them—discard you? Find someone else."

K'Vella throws her head back in a loud, unbelieving laugh that shatters a piece of my heart. As much as it pains me, I take it as my cue to leave. I rise on my feet, forcing myself to step away from the nest, away from the female inside who has me feeling things I never thought I would.

"Wait!" K'Vella calls out to me, getting to her feet and stepping out of the nest. I have to force myself not to move, not to lunge for her. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you were serious. No one wants me after a while, and I doubt it'll be different with you."

I growl low in my throat, hating that this beautiful female has been made to feel less than. I don't know her very well, but from what I know, she's fun, caring, and willing to sacrifice so much to have a family. Whoever made her believe that she deserves so little should be punished.

"I'm not asking you to be my mate," I growl. When she flinches, I hate myself for saying it that way. I close my eyes, trying to calm my overflowing thoughts. "Sorry. I meant I'm not asking you to be my mate right now. I'm only asking that you're open to me and that if young are produced, you won't keep them from me. I couldn't handle that. I wouldn't be able to live with myself."

K'Vella nods in understanding. She reaches one of her lower hands to me, and I take it slowly like I'm worried about what will happen next. She takes a step back and then another, pulling me closer and closer to the nest with each step.

"I'm willing to see how this goes," she says with a slight tremble, as though I'm not the only one with too many emotions. "I don't know how we'll end up, but I'll never keep the young from you if you want to be in their life."

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