Page 27 of Rescuing Mara

We say our goodbyes and enter the room, where I freeze as O’Rec shuts the door behind me. The room is obviously meant for guests because it has not much else besides an enormous bed and a huge bathtub. The bathtub is situated on some sort of platform, and a huge mirror decorates the wall above a big sink. It is stunning, but one thing is certain: the only place to sleep is in the bed.

Oblivious to my inner turmoil, O’Rec passes me, flopping down on the bed, yawning.

“Let’s nap and get some sleep,” he suggests. “The day is not over yet. There will be a dinner in our honor tonight.”

Nervously, I climb the platform to wash my hands and my face. I'm happy to see they use actual water on Novarron as well. Upon inspection, there’s a cabinet with towels hidden in the wall, and I gratefully use one.

Still clutching the towel, I turn towards O’Rec, who occupies the entire far side of the bed.

“There is only one bed,” I begin.

“Are you uncomfortable sharing it with me, my mate?” he asks me, and I think back to what he told me on the ship.

‘At least let me be something to you.’The emotion in that plea makes the feeling inside my chest pulse, cracking another link in Ananta’s chain.

“I don’t want to be uncomfortable. I want to sleep next to you, to be close to you, to feel safe in your arms.” My voice is barely more than a whisper.

Grinning, he spreads his arms wide. “What are you waiting for then?”

Taking a deep breath to calm my anxious nerves, his scent of fresh spices is all I can focus on as I carefully leap from the platform onto the bed, giggling as I bounce a little bit. O’Rec immediately pulls me into his arms.

“Are you comfortable like this? Or would you like a blanket?” His voice is a caress in my ears.

“Blanket, please,” I say without hesitating, making me sit up immediately.

“O’Rec! I made a choice!”

He gives me the widest smile and the proudest look while he grabs the blanket to cover us. “That you did.”

With that choice, I feel cracks along the entire chain. Maybe, maybe there is hope, that I can one day truly be free.

CHAPTER18

O’Rec

Something is nudging me back to awareness, instantly alerting all my senses. Is there danger? I keep my body still, quickly scanning my surroundings for threats. There is nothing to hear, and I can only smell the exotic scent of fresh flowers. Marra.

My cock hardens instantly when I register she is in my arms. My beautiful mate is in my arms, fast asleep, and she has plastered herself all over me. Her short yellow hair is loose and fanning out over my chest. She hugs my waist with one arm while completely glued to my side. Her knee dangerously close to my stiff cock as her feet rest between my legs. I shudder at her nearness, the bond is pulsating, pulling at something so close, yet out of reach.

I ball my fist, trying not to touch her inappropriately, but I lose my inner battle when she stirs and snuggles into me again. I pull her firmly into me, lightly caressing her upper arm and loosely wrapping my tail around her leg. I let out a deep sigh. This is the ultimate bliss.

She stirs some more, not quite fully awake yet, and that’s when I scent it. The faintest hint, but it is there: arousal. Hope blooms inside of me, the bond pulsing even more. I move my hand upward to stroke the back of her neck, and she moans. Grinding herself against my leg, an enormous grin splits my face. My sweet mate may be wary of me, but she definitely wants me when she is not bothered by all the worries in her mind.

If I were an honorable man, I would slip out from under her and make sure she is not embarrassed when she wakes up, which should be any second now. She makes the cutest little whimper causing my cock to leak a burst of precum. Cursing, I move my body a little bit to the side to try and give myself some relief, but it causes us to shift, and suddenly, her hand is touching my cock through my trousers. This should be my moment, but I am not the honorable man I thought I would be because I stay exactly where I am, grinding my teeth to keep myself from letting out a tortured groan.

I fail miserably, the sound reverberating in my entire body. Marra lets out another of those tiny sounds, her hand moving over my body. When she touches my cock again, she freezes, and I can feel her breath faltering.

“Marra?” I softly say her name, not wanting to mislead her into thinking I am asleep.

“O’Rec…” she begins, then pulls herself up, moving away from me. “I, I’m sorry, I don’t know what…”

I interrupt her, pulling her into my arms again. “Shhh… We woke up like this. Nothing to be embarrassed about, the only one embarrassed should be me, because my cock seems to have its own mind when it comes to you.”

Her breath catches, and I see her cheeks flush, but she still looks down like she cannot help herself.

“O’Rec,” she says in a little moan, making my cock twitch.

“Ignore it. Just let me hold you for a bit longer.” I grit the words out.

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