Page 238 of Monsters in Love

I swallow down the desire to cry. “He was hurt by the Krel. He can’t move. Please help him.”

Immediately the one stepping to me laughs. “Ah, is that all? He’ll be fine. We are all dosed with the venom early. He’s only paralyzed and unconscious. He won’t die.”

The others all start to laugh, and I shake my head. “Why are you laughing?!”

“We aren’t laughing at you. My apologies. It is just very like him to go off on his own and get hurt in the process. I assure you he will live.”

I feel delirious, there are so many emotions swirling in my head—fear, anger, elation, guilt—that I start to laugh along with them. “He’ll be okay!”

They were right. Within hours Xakiras is back to himself, though frustrated and embarrassed. We’ve all nestled near a fire that one of the men created, eating some sort of meat from sticks.

Xakiras is constantly at my side, holding me close as if he doesn’t want a single inch of air between us.

“When will you learn not to go off on your own?” the pink one, whose name I now know is Paki, asks between chewing.

Xakiras grumbles, and I chew on my lip to keep myself from laughing. “I saved Echo fromAmae’siland the Krel in the process. It is truly worth it that I broke protocol.”

“Who is she to you?” another asks, and I feel the blush creeping along my neck and cheeks.

There is no hesitation as Xakiras proudly looks at his men, pulling me even tighter to his side. “This is my mate, Echo.”

Everyone stops their chewing, and silence falls over all of them. There’s no more side conversations at all. “Mate?”

Xakiras nods. “Yes, she is my mate. We will go to the caliphate and explain the situation shortly.”

“Well, congratulations, then. I truly hope you know what you’re doing.” Paki shoves a bite of food into his mouth.

I sure hope so too.

Later after we’ve eaten and discussed the future, Xakiras and I head back to the my commander’s tent. There’s a cot there that I’d much prefer to sleep on than the floor.

“Echo, my sweet beautiful flower. I am so sorry I worried you.” His hands tenderly rub against my cheeks, pulling me closer to him once we’re inside, away from prying eyes.

“It’s okay. You didn’t mean to. I’m just glad you’re alive.” I tightly embrace him. “Please don’t ever fucking do that again, do you hear me? I was terrified!”

Xakiras lifts my chin, running a thumb over my bottom lip. “I am a hunter. I am always in danger, but I assure you that I will never go off on my own again. I will always return to you.”

“You swear?” I pin him with my eyes, narrowing them, itching for his promise.

His navy tongue darts out of his lips, wetting them. “I swear to you on my life, I will never leave you. I love you, otoki, my little bug.”

My god, I love the sound of that. Tiny little goosebumps rise on my arms, and I smile up at him. “Why am I a bug?”

Xakiras smirks deviously as he ghosts his lips over mine. “Because I eat them, and I will eat you too. Now get on the cot.”

I don’t hesitate at all as my heart thunders in my chest and heat pools between my legs. The scent of sweetness swells around me, and instantly I’m yearning to have him.

Once I’m on the cot, I spread my legs wide for him, and like a beast, Xakiras is immediately between them.

His tongue laves down the sides of my thighs, kissing along the skin. “I am going to fuck you senseless. Are you ready for me?”

I barely nod as he pulls my waist, forcing me closer to him. His tongue finds my clit, licking it slowly enough that my head tilts backwards in ecstasy. Xakiras holds my hips while another set of hands roves under my blouse. I squirm, shuffling it over my head for him to get better access to me.

A purring sound comes from his mouth when he can touch my skin more easily. He glances up at me, only to stop licking. “I want you to watch me as I taste you. If your eyes close for even a moment, I will make you pay for it. Do you understand me?”

I whimper with excitement, feeling my body throb at the delicious temptation of his punishment. “Yes, I understand.”

He kisses my thigh as two of his thick fingers enter me, forcing me to fight against the desire to close my eyes with pleasure. Xakiras goes back below to lick at my clit, this time much faster than before. The way his tongue moves makes my hips rise and grind against his face, but the entire time, he’s looking at me. The fire and lust in his eyes take my own to new heights.

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