Page 55 of Healer
“You are my mate,” Hakkar admitted, a broad smile curving his lips despite the hesitancy in his eyes.
My head swam with questions. Yes, we loved each other, and yes, we wanted a future together, but....
“I thought... Vienda said it was this whole ritual.”
“It can be, but for most, what triggers the valakana is when a Vaktaire claims his mate aloud in front of others.”
Hakkar pulled one of my hands to the center of his chest and placed my other hand over my own heart. It made little sense until I felt Hakkar’s heartbeat quicken, and a second later, felt my own heart match and keep the pace.
“I claimed you as mate to your friends and my brethren while you were in the healer. I thought if anything happened, you were already undergoing restoration,” Hakkar murmured, stroking my cheek as I marveled at our identical heartbeats. “You do not have to honor the claim if you do not wish. I just could not wait any longer to declare how I felt.”
“And if I do want to honor the claim?” I asked, wrapping my arms around his neck. The future lay in front of me, shiny, happy, and healthy.
“My mate,” Hakkar whispered, his mouth curving into the most beautiful smile I’d ever seen.
As our lips met again, this time the kiss was slower, more sensual. We savored the taste and feel of each other’s lips, our bodies pressed tightly together. The heat between us grew, but as Hakkar’s hand reached up to cup my breast, I hesitated, placing my hands on his chest, and holding him at bay.
“Where are we exactly?” Sure, it looked like an alien hospital, but one thing I’d learned since being abducted was to never judge anything by its appearance.
“We are in Med-Bay on the Bardaga.” Hakkar’s words sounded slightly muffled, spoken as he licked his way over the curve of my neck.
“Should we be doing this here?” I stiffened. Medical school had been rife with cautionary tales of physicians caughtin flagrante delictoat the most inopportune moments. Thankfully, Derek had never been so inclined, which, in hindsight, should have been a warning sign.
“The door’s locked,” Hakkar chuckled. It was necessary to keep Emmy, Daisy, and Clara away. They would have encamped at your side had I allowed it."
A squeal of mingled surprise and delight burst from my lips. “My friends are here?”
Hakkar pulled away, eyeing me curiously.
“I can take you to see them if you like?”
It wasn’t much of a decision. I could see my friends or lay here in the arms of the man I loved and let wonderful nature take its course.
I slid my arms over his shoulders, pressing myself against him.
“Nope. I can’t wait to see the girls. I suddenly feel like I have all the time in the world.”
He moved with lightning speed, palming the back of my head and pulling me toward him. Our lips crashed together in a fierce collision, stealing breath away.
"You're my mate," Hakkar growled against my mouth, his hands firmly gripping my waist to hold me close. "I've never felt complete until you."
I whimpered softly, knowing exactly how he felt. My heart had never felt whole. ALS always made me feel like something inside was broken and lacking. But now, with Hakkar's strong body pressed against mine, his lips devouring me like he would never stop, I didn’t feel broken any longer.
I felt whole... and adored.
My hands clutched at the fabric of Hakkar's shirt as his lips moved over mine urgently as if trying to wipe away all my broken pieces with one passionate kiss. I felt his muscles tense against me, and his strength and warmth gave me a sense of security I had never known before.
I opened my mouth to speak, but his lips crashed into mine, stealing any words that might have escaped. His tongue explored my mouth with a possessive fervor. Our bodies collided, his chest firm and toned against my soft curves. I pressed myself into him, feeling the heat radiating off his body, and felt his hard arousal pressing against my stomach. The ideaof him being so turned on my me sent a rush of warmth through my veins.
Hakkar's hands fumbled at the thin material of my gown, tugging impatiently at the shoulder ties holding the loose fabric in place. With an aggravated grunt, he gripped the front of the neckline and yanked, ripping the fabric away in one swift motion.
As soon as cold air hit my skin, my nipples puckered and hardened. Hakkar's eyes lingered on my breasts, his lips moistening with anticipation. He drew a long, slow breath as he scanned my body, his gaze tracing every curve and dip. It felt like his eyes were physically caressing me, igniting a trembling sense of urgency in my core.
My heart raced with excitement. We'd been together before, but this time felt different. This time, we were truly bonded for eternity without the fear of disease separating us. This was the beginning of our forever as mates who had finally found each other in the universe.
"I love you," I said again because I'd never be able to tell him enough.
"The Vaktaire don't use the wordlovein mating," Hakkar murmured slowly as though testing the words. He rolled off the bed, hands making short work of removing his tunic. "The word doesn't seem enough to describe how much I feel for you.” The golden eyes found me and held, burning with adoration. “You are the beat of my heart, the breath in my lungs, every hope and dream I'll ever hold fulfilled."
