Page 62 of Fighting Gravity
“I know I often speak when I shouldn’t and I offer opinions where they’re not welcome. Any other urok would have my tongue or worse and I recognize that, Rhone.”
I stood and hung my thumbs on my belt, raising my chin. “Any other urok is not your brother,” I sighed.
“That does not matter. Neither of us has forgotten about Thalos. You’re more than willing to cut down your opposition for what you believe in, whether or not they’re related. But you earned your place and I recognize that as well. Cehthos favors you.”
I had no need for Veron’s praise, but it was a blessing to get it. She had a sharp tongue and a fierce heart, both of which had gotten her in trouble and could likely get her killed one day, but we had emerged from the same womb, on the same day, and that bond was not soon to be forgotten.
I inclined my head at Veron as she headed off the bridge. She could have been in my position if she hadn’t yielded to me. She could have been in Thalos’ position, too. But the reality was that I was commander of the Argos and now the Shadowbreaker. I commanded a crew of twenty-seven men and women and I had to make choices for them and for all of the gek race. Choices I had to trust in.
Which pulled my thoughts toward Quinn again. My chest already thrummed knowing she was laying in my bed, putting her scent all over my quarters. I breathed deeply, wondering if she was still sleeping. Human cycles weren’t long, but they were frequent. It was likely that she was awake and Veron’s words were scratching at my thoughts. What did I plan to do with her? I’d mated her, but I hadn’t thought any further than that.
And now I didn’t need her.
She had nothing else to offer in the way of knowledge. We had a location of the woman she’d mentioned and an idea of what the valerian’s wanted with her kind. We knew plenty about human biology considering the time she spent in medical under Veron’s careful examinations. Now she was just extra weight. An extra mouth to feed.
Before I knew it, my feet had started moving off the bridge and down the hall of my empty ship toward my quarters.
27: Rhone
As soon as I opened the door into my chamber, Quinn’s scent wafted into my lungs and I paused. My throat and chest felt heavy, my Thel eager. I gave myself a moment before entering the room to calm myself and then slowly approached the bed where Quinn’s naked form was sprawled under the sheets. Her skin was a stark contrast to the dark bedding. She was laying on her stomach, one, long leg stretched over the mattress with her back exposed. The three, long slashes I’d put on her were perfectly visible, their red tinge vibrant against her white flesh.
My Thel fought to hum through the quiet space and I suppressed it. Coming to the edge of the bed, I stared down at Quinn’s gentle form, canting my head at the way it somehow appealed to me. I thought of the way her soft flesh yielded to my sharp talons. How her sweet voice sang through me when I stretched her with my cock.
Thinking of Quinn that way made my chest thrum softly even if I was trying to suppress it and only moments after it began, Quinn stirred. She let out a breath with a tender moan and pulled her outstretched leg back under the covers before she slowly rolled over. I watched her eyes peel open and fixate on me. It took her a moment to realize she was awake and when she did, she nearly leapt out of her skin. She grabbed the blankets, pinning them to her body as she scurried back from me.
“Jesus Christ!” she yelped. “I hate when you do that! How long have you been there, you creep?”
I let my eyes skim over her while she did her best to cover every inch of her bare form. Then I eyed the clothes draped on the end of the bed and the empty food tray and water cup. So, she’d eaten. But it had been some time since I left her in the room to rest. She’d likely need food again soon to get her “kaloris.”
“Can I help you?” she said. “I was having a good dream.”
I said the first thing that came to my mind and considering how Quinn was affecting me, the first thing that came to my mind was a break.
“I’m going into Kahten’nak.”
“What the hell is katinic?”
“Kahten’nakis the port we’re docked at.”
“Ok. So?”
“So, you’re coming with me.”
“Oh, no. Not after the last port.”
“You don’t have a choice. I need to take Lin and her son to the embassy and I can’t leave you here to do as you please.”
“Has anyone at this port seen a human?”
“No.”
“Then I’ll definitely pass. Tao was enough alien company for me. I swear I won’t trash your room,” she rolled her eyes.
I grabbed her clothes from the foot of the bed and tossed them at her.
“Get dressed or I’m taking you into Kahten’nak naked.”
She ripped me in two with her eyes, staring angrily for a while until she realized the scope of my threat. Pursing her lips, she grabbed her clothes and held the blanket around her. She stood and turned her back, hesitated, and then groaned with defeat. I watched the blanket slide down her graceful figure. My scratch marks were the first things to draw my eyes and I imagined they’d grab me every time until they healed, but then I glimpsed the pinkish flesh around her wrists where marks from where the cuffs had chafed her skin remained. I glimpsed the scar on her neck where she’d pried the collar off of herself to get into the arena. I could even see the small marks on her abdomen where she’d been impaled by the noc’ran. She had none of those marks before she came aboard my ship.
