Page 43 of Kazzon's Human Bride
“Am I still allowed to roam the ship and look out all the viewscreens, so I might better observe the planet?”
“Of course.” He gave her a serious look. “How does your bottom feel this morning?” He lifted an eyebrow at her in question.
She blushed and reached one hand around to rub at her bottom, but quickly stopped as she apparently recalled his no rubbing rule. “It’s still a bit sore, Xerr,” she admitted.
He placed a kiss to her lips. “Good. I hope it will remind you to behave while I’m gone.” Though he kept his voice stern, he shot her a playful look, one that made her blush an even deeper shade of red. A quick glance down showed her nipples had tightened to sharp buds, and after a long breath in, he could easily detect the beginnings of her arousal.
“I promise I’ll be good,Xerr. In every possible way,” she said, timidly alluding to the specific kind of naughtiness that had earned her a punishment just last night.
He almost chuckled at her response.
Drawing her close, he pressed a kiss to each of her cheeks as well as her forehead. She gave a contented sigh and nuzzled her face against his. Warmth abounded in his chest, the desire to stay here with the female who held his heart, and it took a great deal of strength for him to finally withdraw from the embrace.
He rose to his feet and stared down at her, stunned by the intensity of the tender emotions rolling through him. Given his propensity to push others away, he had never dared to hope he might one day experience true affection for his bride.
“Good luck,Xerr,” she said.
He nodded at her once and departed his quarters, silently thanking the Gods for bringing Caylee into his life.
Chapter 32
Kazzon didn’t returnthat day, nor the next.
Caylee felt sick with worry.
It didn’t help that they’d arrived on the landing platform, only to find pieces of Ambassador Stonnas’ ship left. Kazzon had kept quiet about what might’ve happened to the ship or its occupants, but she couldn’t push the bad feeling in her gut away.
Half the guards, as well as the pilots and the workers in engineering, had been left behind on theCorrannelia. The servants, too, of course. So she wasn’t entirely alone. But God how she felt alone.
Last night a message had appeared on the video comm, a quick note that Kazzon must’ve sent from his wrist comm.
It is taking longer than we expected to locate our missing people. Please do not worry. I hope to return in a few days.
Well, it was difficult not to worry, especially when Kazzon didn’t give her any further details. She had figured out how to message him back, but he had yet to send a reply. What if something had happened since he’d sent the message?
She glanced out the viewscreen at the endless expanse of trees and rolling hills that spread to the horizon. The ship had landed on a platform that rose high over the dangerous forests of Xollnax and she saw little evidence of civilization below, though Kazzon had told her the Xollnaxians lived in small communities and in tiny houses that were often obscured by the trees.
A few of the tallest trees below contained houses, small but sturdy looking structures built amongst the highest branches. These homes were painted a bright shade of green. She wondered what it would be like to take a stroll through the forest, but she supposed she would never find out. A shudder ran through her when she thought about the dangerous animals and vegetation Kazzon had warned her about.
God, please keep him safe.
Please let him find the missing Tarrkuans so that we might leave this place at once.
Needing a change of scenery, she departed his quarters, intent to roam the corridors and peek out every viewscreen she passed yet again. Perhaps she would be lucky and catch a glimpse of her husband as he returned to theCorrannelia. She could only hope and pray. She hated that she was forced to stay here, unable to help.
Back in New Leesburg, she’d been a problem solver. Or at least she tried to be. She’d always tried to help others, whether it be her parents or her brother or her friends.Little fixer. A smile formed on her lips. That was the nickname her father called her when she was just a young child.
But as she’d grown older, he’d stopped calling her that. It happened so gradually that she hadn’t noticed it right away. Perhaps he’d ceased using it as they slowly grew apart. Or maybe he’d decided she was too old for silly nicknames, that she was growing up and would leave Earth soon anyway.
Sometimes she wondered if her parents had both pushed her away over the years in order to lessen the pain they would feel when she finally left them. For some reason, this thought had never occurred to her before. For a moment, it left her hopeful, but then she realized it didn’t quite matter, because her relationship with them remained strained.
At least all was well with Wilson and he didn’t treat her with awkwardness. He would leave New Leesburg soon and she couldn’t be happier for him. She smiled as she thought about her brother. Kazzon had promised to allow her to visit with him next time he was required to travel to Earth, just before he’d told her she could visit her parents too, but only if she wished.
“I don’t want you to visit them because you feel obligated to do so, little human,” he’d said during one of their late-night conversations, as he’d held her in his arms after a lengthy mating session. “Your happiness means a great deal to me and I don’t want to see you sad.”
His understanding never failed to warm her heart, as did the affection he showed her.
Love.
