Page 58 of Cosmic Castaway

“Hallonnixmin and Dontilvynsan as well as our cousin Monqilcolnen are inseparable. Zoltilvoxfyn and Kalvoxrencol are the same. I move between them. We all get along together, but…”

I gripped his side. “You were left out.”

“No. Never. But I know all of my brothers are closer to another sibling than they are to me. I love them, they love me, and we are all close.”

I hated the thought of his family hurting him, even by accident. Serlotminden was the best person I’d ever met. He’d kidnapped me because he was trying to save me. He’d taken care of me. He’d made me laugh. He definitely didn’t think things through, but he was the sweetest person I’d ever known.

No words came to mind, so I kissed the underside of his jaw and continued to stroke his side. If I couldn’t find anything to say, then I could at least provide comfort.

Chapter 24

Permissions.

I hadn’t been able to sleep. I was too excited for our outing to the river. Bartholomew let me hold him all night as he slept, and I relished the feel of him in my arms. He was near my height, and much slimmer than me, for now, but I adored the way he fit so perfectly against me. A couple of times he whimpered or cried out in his sleep, and I’d soothed the tension away while whispering that I was there. I didn’t know what nightmares plagued him, but after a moment or two, he’d fallen back to sleep.

When I started to shift away, Bartholomew released a long breath and gripped me tighter. While I didn’t wish to move, I needed to prepare for our date. I snuck out of his embrace,or tried to. He held my shirt, forehead crinkling. I kissed the wrinkles. He was so cute—or as my mate-brothers would say, sofuckingcute. I almost laughed, but I stifled it, as to not wake Bartholomew. Gently, I tugged his hands away and slipped out from beneath him.

The instant I escaped the tent, I closed it, trying to trap enough heat for Bartholomew to stay warm and to keep the light off him. I grabbed a comb and brushed my hair. I wished it was possible to shave the side of my head or pick more attractive clothes, but I didn’t have access to any of that.

Normally, when I prepared for an outing, I dressed nicely, coordinating my jewelry, and made sure I was perfect. That wasn’t an option right now, and this was different than anything I’d ever done before. I was courting someone—and not anyone—I was courting my mate. I wanted to look beautiful for him. Well, more beautiful. I was always lovely.

When I cleaned and prepared myself as much as possible, I returned to the tent and waited for him to awaken, watching his lids flutter with his dreams. Drool dripped out of the corner of his mouth and raucous snores escaped him, cheek pillowed on his palm. He gave a loud snort, and my soul clenched.

He was so cute. How had I survived before him? Was this what my brothers felt? If it was, I understood their complete and utter fascination with their mates. Though Seth, Caleb, and Gilvaxtin would never be as cute as Bartholomew. No one could be. It was impossible.

I shifted as close as possible to my mate, knees brushing his side. Bartholomew rolled toward me, reaching. Unable to resist, I tucked myself beside him. He grabbed the front of my shirt and pulled me flush against him. I rested my lips on the top of his head, but I didn’t use any pressure. We still hadn’t discussed further permissions and if he was alright with me kissing or biting him or having sex or anything more. My tail curled aroundhis ankle, and I petted his back, my fingers slipping into the wing slits to brush his skin.

He awoke with a grunt, then a groan as he wiped his spit-drenched hand on my fresh shirt, but I didn’t mind. His eyes lifted to mine and he jerked. “What the fuck?”

I would love to fuck him, but that wasn’t going to happen right now. I grinned. “Good morning, my Bartholomew.” I wanted to call him my mate, but that might scare him.

“Yeah,” he said shortly, rolling over.

Sudden pain pricked me at the rejection. I shook it off. Bartholomew needed to get to know me better. He would accept me in the end. I was his mate. That’s all there was to it. I didn’t need the Crystal to tell me where my soul resided. He had it, and I planned to have his in return.

I snuggled behind him and inhaled deeply. Stars above, he smelled amazing. Like sunlight kissing grass or something more poetic. I wanted to bathe in his fragrance and rub it all over me, so everyone knew I belonged to him. I wanted our scents to mingle, and they did to some extent because we slept in such close proximity, but not enough. Never enough. Every drakcol needed to be able to scent me on him and him on me.

Bartholomew reached back, and I froze. Was he going to push me away? Why would he? But this was so new and fragile.Please, don’t, I silently begged.Please don’t reject me. His fingers enclosed my wrist and drew me closer. I groaned, dragging my nose against the nape of his neck.

“Bartholomew,” I breathed. How had I lived without him? I didn’t understand it. My life before made no sense. I should’ve been searching for him or known he was waiting, but I’d never even suspected a human was for me, but now that I had, I refused to let him go.

He interlaced our fingers. Bartholomew’s palm was cool against mine, with rough calluses that scraped against my scales, making me shiver.

“We should eat before our date,” he said.

“Yes.” I was not going to disagree with him. Whatever he desired he could have as long as he remained against me.

“I suppose it doesn’t matter what time we go, as long as it’s not dark. It’ll be cold outside either way, though.”

“Probably.” He was perfect in my arms. I breathed in his scent like I could imprint it onto my lungs.

“The water will most likely be warm whenever.”

“Yes.” How was he this perfect? It seemed impossible. No one was this perfect, but somehow Bartholomew was.

“We’re not swimming naked, but we might want to bring a towel or something to dry off with, and more briefs.”

“Sure.” Could I kiss his neck? Would he mind? I wanted to bite him. I wanted to nibble on his soft skin. Kalvoxrencol had told me human skin marked when kissed and sucked on. Well, Seth’s did. Did Bartholomew? I wanted to see it.

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