Page 116 of Right Next Door
He growled, his grip tightening. “That’s certainly a word for it.”
She giggled, running her fingers over his shoulder, then down his arm. Letting them fall into the grooves made by his braids. She marveled at the pretty shapes. At how good he made them look.
One more day.
She didn’t know how she was going to last that long.
Chapter 42
Tsok
The second day of the wedding ceremony was much smaller than the first. It was a more intimate affair, taking place in the gardens of Fellbud Manor – the place he would be claiming his mate. The guest list was short, featuring only their close friends. Davard was there, of course, as was Senior Boktare and Fia and more of his friends. Misty had friends from her salon there as well, including Flik. The male she had grown close to offered them a heartfelt congratulations before asking questions about the ceremony and what it was like.
That male, Tsok was sure, would make sure he had a ceremony himself the moment he found a mate to take him.
The High Imperium wasn’t there, though they had been invited. Tsok and Misty received an apologetic denial in return, stating that they were needed back on Holotulle, but that they would happily see them again in the future.
Their mission on Kree, whatever it was, had been completed, and they’d given their gift, so they were leaving just as abruptly as they came. Tsok was more curious than Misty as to whatthe Imperium was up to, but he kept his thoughts to himself. Whatever it was, they had their reasons.
Besides, how could he be focused on the esoteric desires of the most mysterious figure in the Coalition when compared to his female?
Misty had dressed up for their hunt today. The dress she chose wasn’t as elaborate as her wedding gown, but it was lovely and sensual in a completely different way. She’d kept to her color scheme, but she’d reversed it. So, today, she wore a white silken dress, trimmed in black lace. The sleeves were tight up to the wrist before flaring around her hand. The bodice, similarly, was tight until it flared into the skirt that swirled sweetly around her luscious thighs. She left her hair down today, but curled it so that the short strands turned into waves that barely brushed her shoulders.
Stunning. Glorious. The sight of her legs, especially that one with the pretty flowers inked into her skin, had him hypnotized throughout the morning breakfast and the party afterwards. They were scheduled to go into Fellbud Manor together at midday, but the marks seemed to drag onand onas he waited for the arrival of their moment.
Accept his instincts, Boktare had said. Let them guide his actions.
Well, his instincts were screaming at him to end all this pomp and celebration and take his female away where he could scent and fuck and breed her like she deserved. Like they both craved. To end this façade of civility they were painting over the rut.
But he didn’t. Because he was proving a point. And because Misty looked like she was having such a good time as she moved among the guests. Chatting and laughing with everyone. She was beautiful, and he was impatient.
When did a single mark become so long?
It was an eternity before Misty finally sent him a look, and the rest of the guests got their own coy, expectant expressions on their face. Tsok gave up looking at the time a while ago, not when it didn’t seem to be moving, but he knew exactly what those looks meant.
Taking Misty by the hand, he led her, as slowly as he could force himself to walk, to the exit of the gardens, to the path that led back to the front of Fellbud Manor.
“Friends!” Tsok called out over the gathered crowd that were all smiling at them. “Thank you for the joy of your presence here today. We greatly appreciate it. We also welcome you to stay as long as you like and enjoy yourselves. We’ll let you know when we’ve emerged.”
Davard, who would be the one making sure they got food and water while in seclusion, walked with them to the door of the manor. He was the last face they saw as the door shut behind them. Tsok was maybe a bit too eager setting the locks that sealed them inside, but he could feel the final, frayed ends of his patience barely holding on.
He turned back in the entrance hall and faced his soon-to-be-mate with his heart pounding hard in his chest while his cock began to emerge. Like it knew what was coming. There was a sizzling energy throughout his entire body, begging him to get started already.
But he was slow and deliberate as he approached his female. She faced him confidently, hands clasped behind her back, pushing out her generous chest to his growling approval.
“You nervous?” She asked, her voice breathy and excited.
“No,” he said, quite confident.
“Oh?”
“Did you expect me to be?”
“Actually, yes.” She chuckled. “You haven’t deliberately sniffed someone since, what? You were a child?”
“It will be interesting to go through life without needing the filter anymore,” he admitted. “It will be nice, and strange, to have my sense of smell available to me at all times. Not just when I’m in a scrubbed, sterile, isolated room. But I’m not nervous about mating you. I’ve never been more certain about something in my life. If anything, I should be asking you that.”
She shook her head, still smiling. “I’m okay. I’m a little nervous, but it’s that nervousness before you get on a really fast roller coaster. I know I’m going to have a good time, but the journey is going to be a wild ride.”
