Page 30 of Cerban
Pam nodded. "Good. Stay out of trouble, all of you. Or I shall remove every single finman from the Hot Tatties database."
The screen went dark.
Paul rubbed his temples. “All right. Let’s get this over with.” He handed Maelis a sterile swab. She rubbed it against the inside of her cheek in slow, almost meditative movements. What was she thinking? Was she doubting our connection? Or hoping that this would prove it to the rest of the world?
When Paul sealed the sample in a plastic tube, he looked exhausted. “Cerban, time for you to return to your quarters. I’ll have someone escort you back.”
“I don’t need an escort,” I said.
Maelis stepped forward. "I will take him."
Paul gaped at her. "You? That's-"
"Pam didn't say anything about Cerban having to be by himself while he's confined to his room. Please give us some privacy."
And with that, she took my hand and led me out of the room.
If I hadn't loved her already, I would have fallen for her that very moment. Hard.
17
Maelis
My palm was damp against his – part seawater, part nerves – but I didn’t let go. My fingers tightened around Cerban’s. “Come on,” I said quietly. “Before someone changes their mind.”
We walked out together, his height dwarfing mine, the corridor hushed around us. No one stopped us; no one dared. The other alien, Rainse, had given me a wink, unless I'd imagined that. My heart pounded, a drumbeat in my ears. I had no idea what would happen next. I only knew I wasn’t going to let Cerban be taken from me and shut away like some dangerous animal.
It took a small eternity to get to his room. I kept expecting someone to step in our way and stop us. He stepped in first, then turned, closing the door behind me. The room was dim, the shutters drawn, the air heavy with salt and his scent. My heart beat against my ribs.
For a moment we just stood there, staring at each other, the silence stretching taut. His gills fluttered once. I dropped my bag on the floor and stepped closer until I could feel the heat of his body radiating through the thin damp fabric of the oversized linen dress I'd put on in a hurry.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, not sure which part I was apologising for – the secrecy, the test, the kiss on the beach. “I didn’t mean to make things harder for you.”
“You didn’t,” he said softly. “You saved me.”
He lifted a hand and traced his thumb along my cheek, leaving a faint streak of salt water. The touch was so gentle it undid me. All the tension, all the fighting and rules and fear melted away until there was nothing left but this pull between us, tidal and unstoppable.
I licked my lips. “Cerban…”
“Yes?”
“I don’t want to talk anymore.”
He inhaled sharply, the sound almost a growl. “Then tell me to stop now. Because once I start, Maelis, I won’t stop.”
I didn’t tell him to stop. I closed the space between us and kissed him again.
This time it wasn’t tentative. His arms wrapped around me, lifting me off the floor, his mouth deep and sure on mine. The taste of him was salt and heat, the ocean and something entirely his. My fingers slid over his shoulders, over the slick strands of algae trailing from his skin, until I was gripping hard, pulling him closer.
He broke the kiss just enough to look at me. “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice a low rumble against my lips.
“Yes,” I breathed. “I’ve never been surer of anything.”
His answering smile was feral and tender all at once. “Then I’ll show you what it means when a finman claims his mate.”
He kissed me again, slow this time, exploratory, his hands skimming down my back and along my hips until they found the hem of my dress. I shivered as he began to move it up, inch by inch, the cool air meeting my heated skin. He pulled the dress over my head in one smooth motion, leaving me in nothing but damp panties. But I didn't feel self-aware. I just wanted more of him. I pressed against him, feeling the hard planes of his chest through the damp wrap, the way his body trembled as if he were holding himself in check.
“Easy,” I whispered. “We have time.”
