Page 21 of Veras
“So?”
“So! We cannot be together. I must save myself for my fated one.”
“Says who?”
“The females—”
“Your females had a lot to say aboutyourbody.” Mad respect for the ladies trying to keep their gorgeous men on lockdown, but they were cramping my style.
“Do not speak of them that way.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry.” I sighed, realizing I was dismissing his beliefs. “Let’s figure this out together. What else did they say you could or couldn’t do?” I bit my lip. “Tell me what else was forbidden.”
“Connecting with a female, having sex as you call it, is for mated couples only.”
“Ok.”I wonder if that’s true.“Anything else?”
“In order to have offspring, you must make the woman reach her pleasure several times before the male releases.”
“I…well…” These ladies weregeniuses. Or really, really lucky.
“You see? You understand now. They are geniuses. Is it the same for your kind? The woman must peak before fertilization?”
I considered lying but knew he would call me out immediately. Deceit in this relationship proved pointless. If he gave me multiple orgasms, I wanted it to be because he wanted to, not because he had to. “Let me put it this way. I agree that it isextremelyimportant to the process. Especially if you want a human woman to sleep with you again.” I leaned closer, but he was still looking at Vinny. “But technically, no, it isn’t medically necessary.”
“But this… this is impossible. I cannot mate with anyone other than my kind.”
Sounds about right. The idea that I could be his mate seemed impossible, considering we were different species who lived across the universe from each other. “Is this the only indicatorof your true mate? Does anything else let you know? Are your feelings important to the process?”
“Feelings… I don’t know. But there are a few more indicators of a fated couple.” Veras inched closer, almost standing between my legs while I sat at the edge of the pool.
“Like what?” Now that he was so close, I fought the urge to ask him to kiss me. Do aliens kiss?Dios, now all I could think about were his lips. I tried to be supportive, but I was on fire. Deeply attracted to this huge hulk of a super-sweet alien. Maybe it was the glittering Oro that wafted from his body like a soft mist, coating my skin, invading my pores. Or maybe it was just…him. I really liked the guy.
“My marking. On my arm. It grows and tracks my entire back and arms. The few males lucky enough to have found theiralmaxnever wear coverings above their waist, to show them off with pride. Allowing all to see.”
I nodded and then sighed.Time to share.“Listen, I have to be honest. I’m glad I’m not your true-mate.”
“What! Why would you say this? You don’twantme?” He staggered back.
“Let me finish.” I smoothed down an errant quill on his head. The texture was smoother than I imagined. And warmer. “I’m glad because it means, if we were ever together, it would be because wechoseto share this moment. Not because of fate or the stars or whoever. We would decide to trust each other enough, want each other enough, for this to happen. Do you understand?”
“Idon’tunderstand. There is nothing better than youralmax.”
“Maybe not. But we could share something amazing. Vinny showing up is a gift. Do you really want to walk away from what we can share?” I held my breath, feeling more vulnerable thanI had in years. Life on this planet consisted of hiding. Staying small. Never exposing weakness.
“I’m sorry, little General. I sense my confusion is hurting you. It’s just a truth I’ve been told my whole life.” He glanced down at Vinny. “I don’t know what this means.”
“We don’t have to figure out everything right now.” I took a deep breath, bracing myself for rejection. This moment, in this twilight grotto, surrounded by glistening diamonds above us, seemed too perfect. Maybe he wasn’t attracted to me. Or my anatomy. Or maybe it was time to woman up and tell him how he made me feel. He always overemoted; now it was my turn.
His head snapped up. “Tell me. Share with me how I make you feel.”
“Safe.” It was true. The pain of my time here altered me, had made me anew, but the intensity of his attention and kindness warmed me like a space heater, pushing the worst of the agony away. “I like your dramatics. And your way of saying whatever pops into your head. Because I feel like you won’t lie to me. That’s so important.”Time for a little honesty, even if it pushes him away.“But I have to tell you, the odds of me being your mate are almost infinitesimal.”
“Agreed.” He growled. “Because of that, it is forbidden.”
“By who?” I wanted to respect him, but I needed control in some part of my life. Veras’ beliefs stripped me of my choices. It was heartbreaking. I leaned in and said, “Everyone I know and love is light years away and your people.” I should have shut my mouth, but I couldn’t help myself. “They’re gone. You’re here. All alone.”
He clenched his fists, and his sorrow engulfed me like an emotional tsunami.
