Page 57 of May the Stars Have Mercy
Aphroditespentfivedaysand nights in the lab or on angry walks with the pack. Xexis was with the Korzavic more often than not. After the major announcement, it became apparent there was a crisis happening. She tried not to take it personally when she went to bed alone and woke up with him curling around her. His face would be buried in her back or hair and his arms would refuse to let her up. Her only solace was in how hard he held her in the mornings. She would curl up against him and let herself drift for a few more moments.
Then he would wake to an alarm on his data pad. She would scramble to kiss his forehead or hold him for a moment longer. They lingered in each other's arms, then he would excuse himself. She’d never seen the agony in his face quite like when he would leave her in the mornings. Once, she tried to find him in his official chambers only to find it empty.
So, she buried herself in her work. He was being a royal—he was Kannatch—and she knew this was coming. There were hunters out there who weren’t able to get the word or return home. There were hunts that still had to happen. There were new precautions and training. Xexis was busy doing what he was born to do. Aphrodite was proud he took it seriously. Which meant keeping her head down and working till her fingers ached.
After three days, she’d installed better laser scanners. Then she took inspiration from one of the light cannons they had and installed a light impaction system into Buddy’s tentacles. The plus side was that he could aim multiple directions and either light, impact light, or fire off an explosive. The consequence of that was Buddy had to learn not to turn her lab into a flashlight rave while he got used to them. She also upgraded his lens so he could have a camera or video function that saved the recordings.Just in case.Lastly, she gave him a taser capability.For reasons.
She was proud of all his abilities. Watching him test and explore his body, she thought she’d done a rather good job. She set up rubber attack dummies around the lab for him to test attacks and learn how to move in his new body. Aphrodite was cleaning up her desk, pondering what the next project could be, when Xexis reappeared.
Almost as if she’d seen a ghost, Aphrodite gasped in shock as her mate stood at her side. “Xexis.”
“My mate,” he purred with exhaustion. She wrapped her arms around his torso and pulled him tight. He engulfed her in his arms and pressed his forehead to the top of her head.
“What’s going on?” She croaked, fingers burrowing into his back desperately.As if letting go would let him float away.Aphrodite nuzzled her face against the soft fabric on his chest.
“I need rest, and I require my mate to sleep. Are your upgrades complete?”
She pulled back. Glancing up at him then at the desk, she nodded. He motioned for Buddy to follow before looping his arm around her. Aphrodite melted into his side and fell into step with him once more. She hadn’t realized how much she’d grownaccustomed to having him always at her side. Then he wasn’t there, and she had been hollow the whole time.
Buddy sat on her shoulder, chirping happily as they passed through their hall. Aphrodite had to bite down the urge to challenge him to a race. Something, anything! Just to see the spark back in his eyes. She laid her head against him.When he’s rested…I can get it back.The door to their room open and she nearly had to drag him to bed. Pulling his crystal rings off his arms, she helped him slip out of his fabric and into bed.
Aphrodite climbed into bed and fell into his arms. Xexis snuggled her like she was the last oxygen tank on a deep sea dive. She wasn’t tired, but she let him curl around her. His breathing evened out and he was gone in an instant. She waited till he was fully asleep to the stars before shifting to get comfortable. Pulling out her data pad, Buddy on the bed beside her, she opened a different book.The mystery would have to wait.Instead, she found a romance she hadn’t read before. A comfortable, cozy contemporary that she could feel safe diving into. Reading it out loud, she drifted away from the stars and back to a place she’d only heard about in stories.Back to earth.
Sherealizedshefellasleep when she woke to Xexis grunting and shifting around her. Her data pad fell from her hands and smacked her in the chest. Aphrodite huffed, tossing the pad onto the bed next to her. Buddy slithered out from under her pillow she hadn’t used. She glanced at her mate as he struggled to sit up.For a person who was used to getting all the sleep they could, the last few days musthave been killer on him.She reached out and stroked his back affectionately.
He warmed, stretching and cracking his…well, everything. Xexis’ pincers wiggled as he woke up fully. His obsidian gaze traveled the room before settling on her. She smiled involuntarily. His eyes crinkled and he put a hand to her cheek. “My mate, how long were we resting?”
“Uh, fantastic question.” She peered at her data pad and slapped the screen. The screensaver popped up and she eyed the numbers. “Vaguely 18 hours?”
Wait,18 hours?Her stomach twisted as she sat up in a panic. “How?”
“Sleep was necessary.” He slid out of the blankets, dragging her with him without asking. She let him.Used to it now.She was cradled in his arms, poking at her screen in bafflement.
“But, don’t you have urgent business or—”
“A hunter always rests before a major hunt.” He brought her to the bathroom. Xexis took no time getting them undressed before he dragged her into the tub with him. A man on a mission and sat them down in the warmth. She was forced to set her data pad aside on safe land before he drowned all her good work.
“Yeah well…wait, a major hunt?” She furrowed her brows, whipping around in the water to him. “You don’t mean?”
“Xnasis has been investigating and found the pests. We think. Our last hunt, with my pack, will be to hunt the scourge and stop them.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and settled her into his lap. “I have assembled a team; smaller, more specific for this hunt.”
“What about this? What about here? Aren’t you needed here?” She straddled his lap, watching his face.
“I have been making delegations these last few days. Ensuring that everything here was set up for success. Korzavic is overseeing my duties, as they do when the Kannatch is called into the duty. My father approves of my final hunt with my pack and believes it is wise, as does Xnasis. So, we will hunt the pests, capture one alive, and find answers.” His words were final, but she could hear the uncertainty. Xexis wasn’t convinced this would work.But he couldn’t let anyone know that, especially the pack.She tried to mimic the brave face painted on his features. Cupping his face, she pressed a loving kiss in between his brow.
Loving. The word repeated in her skull as she peppered him in more kisses. Even as he growled and tugged her flesh against him, she kissed him harder.Love.She trailed his throat, coating every inch of him she could get in her love. One of his hands cupped the back of her head, the other gripping the nape of her neck. His cock pressed into her belly. Aphrodite ground against it and him, willfully ignoring all the advice she’d heard about messing around in bath water.
She wanted him now. And she was too in love to care.
Aphrodite gasped as she rocked her hips over him. His tapered end pressed against her and she reached between them to guide him exactly where she wanted him. Xexis bucked up against her, burying himself inside her. She moaned, her forehead falling to his. Her hips met his vigorously. Aphrodite shivered as he scratched down her back and dug his fingers into her backside. The water sloshed over the back end of the tub as she rode him for all she had.
Hands slipping up his chest, she savored the sharp prickling even under water. She ended up gripping him by the shoulders forsupport. Xexis snuck a finger between them and circled her clit. The build that was usually soft and gradual was threatening her composure now. Aphrodite’s moans turned to pitched cries. Fingernails digging into him, she relished his snarls of desire. Xexis planted his feet fully at the bottom of the tub and fucked himself into her. Pleasure coiled within her.So close.Then he moved his head and wrapped his teeth around her throat again. Like he had in the woods, he bit into her, and it sent a sharp jolt to her organs. She broke. Her orgasm rolled over her.
Goose bumps prickling her skin, Aphrodite rode her orgasm out on him until he finished. Xexis broke away from her throat, groaning against her flesh. His tongue lavished the flesh wounds.
He pulled away, head tossed back. His pincers were crooked and frozen. Aphrodite stilled, staring at Xexis as he rutted through his release. Everything fell still in the bathroom, the words pressing against her teeth. She waited till his eyes opened again. He gazed at her like she was the stars glistening over their heads.Struck in lovely awe.The confession tumbled out. “I love you, Xexis.”
“Love?” He softened his hands around her body, studying her curiously. “What is that?”
