Page 29 of Commander's Slave
A shadow fell over her and she peered up at Edek. Her stomach flipped and shame heated her face. Did he think she was spying on him? She certainly hoped not. She would never intentionally intrude on his privacy like this. She’d seen him walk toward this meadow before, but she hadn’t known it was because his wife and sons were buried here.
“Little human?” He approached and knelt before her, reaching for her face. He cupped her cheek in his large hand and gazed at her with concern reflecting in his dark eyes. “Are you hurt?”
“I-I am fine. I just tripped, that’s all.” She forced a polite smile. “I didn’t mean to surprise you like this, Master. Please forgive me,” she said, scrambling away from him and then rising to her feet. “I’ll leave you alone now.”
“Wait.”
She paused, mid-turn, as her heart beat wildly in her chest. Was he angry? Was he going to scold her? Perhaps he would order her not to walk in this meadow ever again. Well, now that she knew his wife and sons were buried here, she intended to avoid the area anyway, out of respect for his deceased family members, and out of respect for him too.
“Yes, Master?” she asked, keeping her gaze down.
“Look at me.”
Reluctantly, she lifted her eyes to his.
“You needn’t be afraid. I’m not upset with you for coming here.” He opened his arms and gestured at the surrounding dust flowers. “It’s a beautiful place for a walk. That is why I buried my family here. This meadow was Renna’s favorite place to go walking with our sons whenever we came here to visit Draken.” A wistful look stole over his face, along with a slight smile.
Relief filled her that he wasn’t angry. In fact, he seemed to be in a good mood. A peaceful mood. She liked this side of him, but her heart grieved for the loss he’d suffered. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like to lose a life mateandtwo children.
“You’re right,” she finally replied. “It is quite beautiful here. I’m glad your family is resting in a location you can easily visit. I-I imagine they hear your prayers.”
“I don’t usually pray while I’m here,” he confessed as he closed the space between them, “but I talk to them. I tell them how much I miss them and tell them what I’ve been doing. I also make sure to tell them about Draken and the goings-on in town and on the mountainside. I hope they can hear me.”
His openness stunned her. She’d never imagined he might reveal this soulful side of himself to her, the tender male beneath the fierce warrior who’d loved his family dearly. He didn’t have to tell her that he’d loved them. She could tell by the tone he used and the reverent gleam in his eyes.
“After my mother died, I would visit her grave every weekend, at least until I moved away from DC. After that, my visits became less frequent. But when I visited her, I would bring her flowers and tell her everything that had been going on in my life and even in the world. I swear I could feel her presence every time I visited and I’m certain she could hear me, just as I’m certain your wife and sons can hear you. I imagine they are looking down on you and watching over you. That’s what our lost loved ones do—they watch over us and provide us with comfort when we remember them or speak with them.” She blinked against a sudden burn in her eyes, managing to hold her tears back.
The look of peace Edek wore deepened, so much so that he almost resembled his older brother. He gestured toward the tree line. “Would you like to go for a walk in the forest, little human? If you think the meadow is beautiful, just wait until you see the inside of the forest.”
Her spirits brightened at his offer. She nodded. “Yes, Master, I would like that very much. Thank you.”
He reached for her hand, gave it an affectionate squeeze, and guided her toward the forest. While she’d been too nervous to enter the woods alone, she felt perfectly safe in Edek’s company.
They didn’t speak much during their walk, but the silence between them wasn’t awkward. They simply enjoyed one another’s presence amidst the beauty of what could only be described as a fairytale forest.
He’d shared his grief with her, and she’d shared hers with him.
But they weren’t alone in their pain.
Not at this moment.
Not as they walked hand-in-hand through the magical, lush greenery of planet Kall.
Chapter 14
The water removedevery last ache and pain, soothing Betsy’s muscles and providing a much-needed sense of relaxation. She sighed and let her mind drift as she sank lower in the hot spring.
Eight days had passed since the night she’d tried to hide from Edek.
Her bottom tingled at the memory of his firm hand spanking her, and a warmth that rivaled the temperature of the spring flushed her center.
He’d caused her pain, yet he’d been so gentle, so caring as he’d comforted her afterward. She’d felt their minds and hearts connect that night as he’d spooned her in his grand bed, pulling her close yet not pressing his erect cock inside her. She’d felt his hardness pushing against her bottom until she’d drifted to sleep, but he’d restrained himself. Now she found herself imagining what it would have been like had he not exercised restraint.
Desire tightened her nipples and her pulse increased.
An unspoken intimacy was growing between them with each passing day. She spent more time thinking about Edek than she did thinking about Earth, and this realization startled her.
She gazed at the specks of light glowing on the walls and ceiling of the basement, made to mimic the stars. Steam drifted up from the water, hitting her face and prompting the last of her tension to dissipate.
