Page 92 of Fallen from the Stars

“You have a place,” came a familiar voice from the doorway, sending pleasurable chills down her spine. “Your place is with me, female.”

A wide smile stretched across Theo’s lips as she turned to find Vasil, skin glistening with seawater, in the doorway. “You’re back!”

Vasil moved into the room and swept Theo into an embrace that lifted her off her feet. She laughed and threw her arms around his neck, pressing her lips to his. His fingers flexed against her backside as he held her close, deepening the kiss. Though he’d only been gone since early that morning — perhaps eight hours — she’d missed his closeness, his warmth, his touch, and the heat in his eyes when he looked at her. Even now, though her clothing was wet from the water clinging to his body, she burned inside and craved more of him.

Only after Vasil set her back down did she notice Dracchus had accompanied him; the big kraken had Larkin pressed up against the wall, locked in a kiss as passionate as the one Vasil and Theo had just shared.

“I guess you kraken males are always happy to see your mates, huh?” Theo asked, tilting her head back to grin up at Vasil.

Larkin laughed, giving Dracchus a playful shove away. “You havenoidea.”

Dracchus growled, dropped his hands to her hips, and attempted to draw her closer, but she flattened her palms on his chest and locked her elbows.

“Behave. Wait until we’re in our room,” Larkin said. “Then you can have me all to yourself.”

He grunted and lowered his hands, but the fiery gleam in his eyes did not diminish.

Vasil cupped Theo’s face and lowered his head to press his forehead against hers. “You have given me something worth coming home to.”

A warm, tingling sensation spread outward from Theo’s chest. She smiled, cupped the back of his head, and closed her eyes.Home.She hadn’t realized just how much weight, how much meaning, that word could hold until Vasil became part of her life. Old Earth had never been her home, nor had the ships she’d lived on for so many years. Her home was with Vasil.Hewas where she belonged.

“I’ve missed you, too,” she whispered, opening her eyes.

His nostrils flared with a slow, deep inhalation, and he simply held her for several seconds. “How are your repairs progressing?”

“All done for now,” she said.

“The air cleaner is fixed?” Dracchus asked. “Our people are safe?”

“Yep. Good as new. Well, as good as it can get. But…it’s not gonna forever. You know that, right?”

“We have always known. Our people will adapt as necessary. But you have made our home safe for a little longer, and for that I am grateful.”

“You have done well,” Vasil said, calling Theo’s attention back to him. He leaned closer to her again, simultaneously drawing her pelvis against his. “And now I wish to havemymate all to myself. Come, female.”

“Don’t bother saying it. I’ll deactivate myself, thank you,” Kane muttered in her mind.

Theo chuckled, shaking gently against Vasil.

Vasil groaned, tightening his hold on her and pressing the hard bump of his slit against her belly. “I will not wait any longer.”

Before she could respond, he lifted Theo off the floor and settled her over his shoulder, clamping his arm around the back of her thighs with one hand on her ass as he ducked through the doorway.

“Vasil!” she half-screeched, half-laughed, her palms flat against his back.

He moved to her toolbox, sank down to collect it in his free hand — that thoughtfulness alone undid her — and darted into the corridor. Her hair fell around her face, obscuring her vision except for the fast-moving tentacles below her as he hurried toward the elevator.

If Dracchus and Larkin saw what he’d done, they made no comment; Theo guessed they were somewhat occupied themselves.

Vasil stopped his frantic rush only when they were in the elevator. Though he remained in place as it rumbled up to the main floor, his tentacles moved restlessly on the floor, and the hand settled on her ass kneaded her flesh through her jumpsuit.

Theo hummed, the anticipation of what was to come flooding her with desire. She smoothed her hands down his lower back and massaged his powerful muscles. Turning his face toward her, he inhaled deeply.

Vasil groaned again. “I smell your need.”

The elevator came to a halt, and Vasil exited it the instant the door was wide enough to fit through. Doorways zipped by on either side, blurred by his speed as he raced through the corridors into the cabins. The sound of him slapping the button to open the door of their room was so pronounced that she was convinced he’d broken it.

Before the door was fully open, Vasil slipped through. He set down Theo’s toolbox, and she caught a glimpse of one of his tentacles pressing the button to close the door before he carried her across the room toward the bed.

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