Page 8 of Restoring the Ngozii

My head tilts to the side slightly as we eye each other for a long moment, and I smile. “Well, I’m glad to have a connection to someone who will always have my back. Thank you.”

He swallows, bowing again before returning to his seat, Cruzig nudging him and whispering, “What the fuck?” as Kosiiba shrugs, feeling just as baffled as I am.

“Anyway… I’ll help however I can. If you’re right, and her people are simply getting sick, I’ll do what I can to help solve the problem so everyone is safe. Besides, I get to enjoy learning about another new planet, it’s got my scientist all giddy!” Jeff grins before sobering and giving me a stern look. “But if this goes sideways, we get out and find another solution. I’m not going to have you risking yourself for the greater good. Again.”

I roll my eyes at him and cross my heart. “Yes, Lieutenant. We’re a team, and I won’t go risking myself for the greater good.” I mock him, but I grin, making sure he knows it’s at least a semi-truth. I don’t plan to get myself hurt for the greater good, but if it’s necessary, I mean, I’m doing my duty, damn it.

Satisfied, he sits back and pulls Willa close, kissing her head. I know he hates to leave her, but this is for all of us, too.

“Vahru, how do you feel about this?” Criido eyes his son closely from his place on the couch between the Sautii. Today he’s in some casual looking leather pants with frills down the side and no shirt, his bone and jeweled necklaces and other adornments covering him instead.

“I want to trust my mate and the Guardians, and if they think this is best, then I’ll be there for her.”

“I’m glad to hear you’re willing to support your mate and help your sister. This-”

“She’s no sister of mine, not after threatening the lives of my loved ones. She’s nothing more than a witch to me. This is about helping my mate and innocent people, nothing more.” Vahru snarls, his hands tightening on my hips, and I rub my hands along his thighs to calm him.

Criido pauses, chewing his lip for a moment as his wrinkled blue eyes, faded versions of Vahru’s, watch his son closely. “Did you ever stop to think that perhaps Tavionna is suffering, too? Her mother was clearly manipulative, not just of me, but her own daughter. She probably told her nothing of us or terrible things to keep her from searching for us. She’s simply trying to save her people and making the decisions of a scared young girl rather than a priestess of her caliber. Give her a little compassion, and perhaps you can help mend a broken woman and create a relationship with the only other family you have.”

My eyebrows raise as my gaze bounces between Criido and Vahru. I must admit, Criido does have a strong point, but I also see why Vahru is upset, why he’s insistent upon distance with this woman. I won’t force him into anything he doesn’t want, I’ll support his decision, because it is his to make, and be there to help however I can. Maybe we’ll have a relationship with her, maybe we won’t. Either way, we’ll make it work.

***

Once all the details of our plan are hashed out and everyone knows where they are meant to be, what they’re meant to do, we each go our separate ways to pack up and prepare. Vahru and I walk in silence to our cabin, the trip long and tense as we’re each lost in our own mental worlds.

He opens the door for me, and I step inside, heading for our room to figure out what I may need for this. My comm, pants with pockets, my boots for sure, and then we’ll need to get lab equipment and kits and such ready to head to Gemyasiri. That’s more Vahru and Jeff’s job, so I don’t have much to do but figure out how to program the portal watch properly.

I start pulling out my clothes, setting out the pants I wore on my first mission that brought me here, along with my boots, before finding a comfortable shirt to pair with it. Vahru stands in the door watching me, causing me to pause as I tie up my hair on top of my head.

“What’s wrong? Why are you staring at me like that?”

He pushes off from the door jamb, his pants swishing quietly as he walks to me and pulls me against him. His head lowers until our foreheads are touching. “I can’t lose you, Kari. I won’t. Promise me we’ll stay together, no matter what.” His words are whispered, pained, and it breaks my heart. I wrap my arms around his neck and jump, forcing him to catch me as I wrap myself around him. He stumbles back and turns to sit on the bed, squeezing me close.

“We’ll stay together, we’ll figure this out, and we’ll come back together. I won’t leave you, I won’t lose you, either. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

When I pull back, I’m met with his watering blue eyes, and my heart nearly shatters. I crash my lips to his, needing to show him without meaningless words just how much he means to me, how much I need him in my life. Without him, my life has no meaning. He groans into our kiss, his hands sliding up and down my back as his cock grows between us. I grind against him, yanking at his shirt, needing to eradicate anything separating us.

Without a second thought, he shreds the shirt from his body before doing the same to mine, leaving shards of clothes across the floor. As we devour each other, he flips us, lying me on my back as he tears my bottoms from my body, his following suit shortly after. Lips nibble, suck, and kiss across my skin as his big hands roam over me, warming my chilled skin as he works his way down my body.

My knees are pushed apart and up as he spreads my legs about as far as they’ll go before devouring me in a way that has me conflicted emotionally and physically. His movements are quick and eager, then slow and methodical, only to grow rough and hungry before savoring the moment. He pushes and pulls, causing my body to ping pong between emotions while building and retracting from my orgasm. He pushes me closer only to pull me back before I can reach the edge. It’s an exquisite torture that I never want to end.

When two fingers sink into me, one slipping into my backside, as he sucks at my clit, I scream, detonating like a bomb. My body arches of its own free will, but he doesn’t stop, his fingers curling into that spot that keeps me going as he continues his assault with his tongue, extending my orgasm as long as possible before he slows. His fingers slide in and out at a languid pace as he kisses around my thighs and mound, teasing me.

Shivers run up and down my spine with each stroke of his fingers. For the first time ever, I think one orgasm was enough. I’m ridiculously sensitive, but that doesn’t stop him. His kisses travel up my stomach, across my breasts, and up to my lips, his fingers never leaving my body.

“When we come back, safe and sound, this will seem like an hors d'oeuvre compared to what I’ll do to you.” His words are murmured into my ear before he grabs the lobe between his teeth, making me moan. While I’m distracted by his teeth, his fingers finally slide free of my body, only to be immediately replaced by his engorged cock, making me scream as he enters me swiftly.

“I love it when you scream for me, the feeling of your nails digging into my skin as you hold on. You’re perfect for me.”

He kisses me softly, his pace slow as I adjust, until he’s done speaking. Only then does he pick up a relentless pace that takes my breath away as I cling to him, feeling as if I’m falling apart. My moans quickly turn to screams as my over-sensitized body can barely cope, causing a near endless orgasm that has him groaning as I squeeze him relentlessly until he comes. As he relaxes, rolling us onto our sides with my leg draped over his hip, he presses me close.

Each panting breath has our bodies shaking as my core continues to clench around him, but we don’t break apart as we savor our bond and connection. This moment is needed to remind us what we fight for and what we have to come back to.

Chapter 5

Cruzig

FollowingJeffandtheothers out of the chief’s house, my mind is racing. Despite what Kari believes to be a great plan, I feel there are just too many what ifs and uncertainties. It doesn’t seem safe to me, but everyone is agreeing with her gut, herfeelings. That doesn’t sit well with me. They should be worried about the facts, know their opponent, and play this properly, instead, it’s like a game to them. They want to just run in with hopes and prayers, sweet words and gestures, andif they believe hard enough,it’ll work.

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