Page 16 of Rescuing Mara

My gaze is immediately drawn to O’Rec. A strong name, but with a hint of gentleness. I like it, it suits him. He looks at me but doesn’t move. Next to me, Lauren starts talking, but I can’t hear anything. I am solely focused on O’Rec. There’s something about him, the way he looks at me, his eyes filled with longing and uncertainty. I almost take a step toward him when Lauren’s voice cuts through the fog.

“And that is D’Var, my mate,” she beams. Smiling at a big male with a playful grin.

“You can tell me and T’Rak apart because I am the handsome one,” he grins, earning himself a scolding look from the male in the center - a big scary one with a scar across his face.

“Welcome to the ship,” he says in a gruff voice before he turns his chair, summons a smaller screen, and goes back to work.

I freeze, but Lauren is already there, taking my arm to guide me down another hallway. We take the first door on the right, and we enter a warm and welcoming space. It smells so great that it makes my mouth water.

She turns around and spreads her arms: “Welcome to my mess hall! Take a seat, and I will fix you up with something to eat. We can talk some more after we fill your belly.”

I sit in one of the chairs at a big steel table. The surface is smooth and feels cold when I touch it. Lauren brings me something on a plate paired with a steamy mug of tea.

“It smells great,” I tell her honestly.

“Tastes great as well!” I can’t help but blurt out around my first bite. It is the best thing I have ever eaten in my life.

“Thank you!” she says, then continues talking when I eat.

When I’m done, I know all about how D’Var rescued her from a space station where she was forced to work as a sex slave, how she then was kidnapped and tortured by the Sternotheri, and how he got her back. She tells me they had some things to work out, but in the end, she is deeply in love with him and loves the bond they have as mates.

I bite my lip, curiosity getting the better of me. “What does the bond do?”

“Well,” she starts. “The bond is a part of us, a pull towards each other. For me, I felt instinctively safe with D’Var, even though I was scared to death. After we erhm… you know, mated, we had a metaphysical connection, and now we feel each other in our minds.”

“You can hear his thoughts?” I’m in awe.

She laughs. “We have a telepathic link, and we can feel each other's emotions as well.”

I silently process this information.

“And you’re okay with that?” I pause for a while. “You’re not scared you’ll think something wrong and he will punish you?”

She gives me an appalled look. “It’s not like that, not at all! I am D’Var’s Zarra, his mate. I can honestly say that I am the most important thing in his life, and I know that to be true. He will never hurt me, and with a bit of practice, you can use the bond to communicate. It’s not like he knows everything there is in my mind.”

I blush. “Sorry. I didn’t want to offend you. It just feels so weird.”

She interrupts me with a laugh. “I know! I am still not used to the fact that I have that big hunky warrior at my feet, seeing to my every need.”

She winks, and I blush again, although for an entirely different reason.

“So, before the men join us, we need to talk about the mating.”

I nod. “Thank you. I thought that was what he wanted, but I think I did it wrong. Can you tell me how I am supposed to serve him?”

“You don’t,” she states resolutely. “You can mate with him, but only when it’s your choice. He can wait, he won’t mind. He is just happy to have you alive and healthy at his side.”

I blink. “He… He won’t force me?”

“HELL NO!” Lauren shouts, and I brace myself for what’s coming next.

“Why would you think that?” she asks.

“Ananta said…” I start before she interrupts me.

“Sorry to say, but Ananta is a fucking bitch.”

I gasp, I wouldn’t even dare to think those words, true as they might be.

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