Page 63 of Space for More

She shakes her head. “You didn’t, it’s not?—”

“Damn, you really marked your territory!” Mezli interrupts, oblivious to Eden’s whispered words. She swipes a hand throughthe mess on her ass and thighs, which doesn’t do much to help the situation. “As hot as that was, I’m going to need to clean up before we get out of here.”

“We’re leaving?” Eden asks, taking off her smeared glasses and wiping them on the hem of her shirt.

“Probably for the best after we traumatized poor Paul. You stay out here while I go say goodbye to Fina and Eden and I get cleaned up, killer.” Mezli kisses my cheek, then slaps my ass, and I’m so flabbergasted by the casual way she’s touching me now that I don’t argue as she tugs Eden back into the apartment.

I’m left alone in the hallway, dazed and already aching for myxalasto rejoin me so we can continue things in a more private location. My cheeks ache and it takes me a moment to realize it’s because of the smile still stuck on my face. Goddess, this is the best night of my life.

32

Coming off the high of my explosive orgasm and my confession to Eden and Phelix, I don’t even mind the way everyone stares as I return to the dinner party.

“Sorry about that, we needed to have a quick conversation. Fina, mind if we use the hygiene room for a bit?”

“Uh, sure?” Her reply comes out as a question as she gawks at Eden and my disheveled state. Ulena and Maerlon’s nostrils flare, no doubt scenting the jizz I’m covered in.

“Looks like it was an interesting…conversation,” Ulena says, raising a knowing brow at us.

“It was! Would’ve been better without the interruption.”I look pointedly at Paul, who has the decency to blush and act like he’s very interested in one of Maerlon’s paintings.

Eden clings to my side as I lead her into the hygiene room at the back of the loft and she sighs in relief when I lock the door behind us. “God, I’m so embarrassed! They could tell what we did, couldn’t they? Your friends are going to think I’m such a freak.”

“Did you miss the part of Fina’s story where she had a bunch of freaky holosim sex with an alien stranger? They have no room to judge you for having fun in the hallway with your mates.”

Eden squeaks in protest, obviously not believing me. I open the door back to the loft and poke my head out, raising my voice so everyone can hear. “None of you are judging Eden for eating me out in the hallway, right?”

She tugs me back inside and smacks my arm, glaring at me. “I believed you about them not caring!”

“Then why did you make that cute little nervous squeak?” I ask, upper hands fumbling for my dress zipper.

“You said ‘mates’. Twice now!”

“Oh. I did?” I hadn’t realized because it felt so natural.

“Yes!” Her cheeks flush even darker and I know that’s not just from the sight of me getting undressed in front of her.

Is she upset with me? I reach over to get the shower started and shrug back at her, trying to push down panic at the idea she’s angry I called her my mate. I thought I told her I wanted her, and she agreed.

“Is that a problem?” I ask, dreading her answer.

“It’s not accurate!” She frowns at me, crossing her arms.

“You’re worried about semantics when I’ve told you I want to be with you?Really?”

“It’s not semantics! It’s a biological fact. Phelix is your mate. I’myour…” She sighs as she trails off, like it’s a forgone conclusion that biology matters more to me than what’s in my heart.

It pisses me off. After the way I’ve opened myself up to her these past few days, after I’ve let herseeme, she thinks I’d care about her less than Phelix?

I open my mouth to tell her that, but the sadness in her eyes stops me. Goddess, yelling at her won’t make this better. I can only keep showing her I care until she believes me. She’s stubborn, so it’ll take more than a quick confession of feelings and a hallway fuck.

I reach out and take her hand. “You’re mine. If you’ll let me have you.”

“I want you to have me,” she says, voice threaded with restrained hope.

I lean over and kiss her cheek. “Good. As much as I’d like to have you again right now, we should get cleaned up. Don’t want to make our poor mat—uh, our Phelix, wait too long for us. He might break down the door and strangle Paul.”

She giggles and nods, releasing my hand so I can step into the shower while she grabs a washcloth to clean off her face and chest.

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