Page 113 of Cosmic Castaway

I pressed against my brother. “He told me he would stay, but I think he wants to go home with Vince.”

“The human that was with him?” Dontilvynsan asked.

“Yes.”

Kalvoxrencol hooked an arm around my waist, holding me, and I relished it. He hadn’t used to be as affectionate with us as he was now. Seth had helped that. I wanted to see how Bartholomew and I would change and grow together. I loved him. I needed him. The thought of him abandoning me stole the very breath from my lungs.

“Talk to him,” Zoltilvoxfyn advised. “And trust him. If he says he’s going to stay, believe him.”

My thoughts kept straying to my mate in our room. I needed to hold him to make sure he was alright; that he was here. I smiled and gave all the right answers, but I wasn’t paying the slightest attention.

Dontilvynsan knew. Of course he knew. He stole my thoughts right from my brain. I hated his inner fire sodamnmuch. The moment the thought entered my brain, guilt swamped me, and I peeked at my older brother. He gave me a gentle smile as his tail curled around mine. He never got mad about it. Not ever. All of us had hated his inner fire over the cycles, but he had never once spoken against it. No matter what we thought of it.

Dontilvynsan had always planned to join the navy, but when his inner fire presented itself, our parents had been nervous. He could push calm into people, but he could also push in every emotion or memory he’d stolen over the cycles. He had the potential to be turned into a lethal weapon.

Thankfully, Dontilvynsan’s mind had turned toward science. He oversaw several science projects, including the most important—the Immortal Planet. Though I didn’t know if the military had ever ordered him to do things he hadn’t wanted to do. I’d never asked, and he never said.

After a bit, Caleb pinged Zoltilvoxfyn on his touchstone. Apparently, Seth was drunk. Caleb didn’t drink, because of his health problems, but Seth enjoyed alcohol frequently with his close friends, Wyn and Urgg.

Kalvoxrencol and Zoltilvoxfyn rushed out, leaving me and Dontilvynsan alone.

Dontilvynsan patted my cheek. “Go see your mate. I’m sorry you didn’t get to ask Pest all the sex questions you wanted to.”

Kalvoxrencol was the only one of us who had intimate knowledge of human sex, and as a curiosity in the past, I’d bombarded him with questions about his sex life. Pest was more than happy to share. Now, I required more technical information; I didn’t want to hurt my mate.

“I will ask him tomorrow.”

“While Seth is vomiting?”

I chuckled. “Pest’s little mate is something.”

He kissed my temple, and I was a tad surprised. Dontilvynsan did not touch us often, because of his inner fire. “So is yours, and I shall like him as well as my other mate-siblings.”

“Thank you.” And I truly meant it. I hoped for Bartholomew to belong to my family. I knew he loved his own family, so I didn’t want him to feel isolated from those most important to me. Also,as Dontilvynsan had noted, I was desperate for him to connect and place roots to keep him here.

“Talk to him,” Dontilvynsan said, “and leave before Seth and Kalvoxrencol return. You don’t want to watch him puke.”

Very true. No one wanted that.

Chapter 42

Husbands?

When I returned to me and mine’s quarters, the room was in chaos. Seth was clinging to Kalvoxrencol, laughing incoherently. Caleb was urging him on, all while Zoltilvoxfyn was attempting to stop him. My Bartholomew was smirking at the situation from where he leaned against the wall.

The sight of him was enough to stir my instincts. I rushed to my mate and kissed him. He started, and I pulled back. We hadn’t discussed public affection. When we discussed permissions the first time, we had been alone. No one else to worry about. The second time, I’d forgotten.

Bartholomew pressed his lips against mine and hauled me flush against him. He squeezed my butt, and I groaned, lickinghis mouth. He opened without hesitation. My cock started to stiffen and pressed against his stomach as his tongue slowly danced with mine.

He chuckled, then nibbled on my bottom lip, teeth catching on my ring. “Kick everyone out so we can fuck.”

I was tempted to use my feet to physically force everyone out of our quarters, even though I knew that wasn’t what he meant. He slipped out of my arms and went to the bedroom.

“Out,” I ordered everyone.

Caleb burst into laughter and slung his arms around Zoltilvoxfyn’s waist. “They wantalonetime. What, oh, what will they be doing?”

Zoltilvoxfyn smiled at his mate, tail curling around his leg. His eyes dipped. “He seems quite excited. I could take a guess if you’d like, Little Soul.”

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