Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“Us being mates allows me to share my memories with you, and you with me, when that is something I could only ever do with family before,” he begins. “It also means that we can procreate together. All mated pairs have in the past.”
My thoughts take me back to the conversation I had with Vabila yesterday. Just a sentence from her, and it felt like all the things I used to dread on Earth became dreams I couldn’t wait to reach. I never wanted to be a wife to any human man, nor a mother when I knew it meant my son being taught ideals I didn’t believe myself, turned into a man like my father, or having a daughter and having to watch her every independent thought be stepped on, her will broken, until she was nothing but another product of The New Order. But with Bothaki, I want all of it. A forever with him, a child, children, even, that look like …
“So, Hallans have mated with other species before?”
“Oh, yes. There are quite a few Hallan males, and some females, who have mated with other species.”
“And what do those children look like?” I ask. “Do they always look like Hallans, or a mixture?”
“Depends on who has the stronger genes of the mates, really.” He smiles, then. “Are you wondering what a child of ours would look like?”
“Maybe.” I chuckle at the smirk he gives me that says he knows I’m lying.
“Hmm. I think with my height, your hair color, a combination of our skin colors. Definitely your eyes.”
I can’t help but wince at that, and he notices. Of course, he notices. He always does.
“What is it?” he asks, his brows drawing down.
“People have always seen my eyes as … evil, a bad omen, as a sign that something was wrong with me, corrupted within me.”
“How could anyone …” He shakes his head and trails off before leaning closer. “I don’t care how anyone else saw your eyes. For me, they were in my every dream and what I looked for at each new planet I went to. They were what I searched for all my life, desperate for the moment I would stare into a blue and green eye. And then when I did see them, staring at me from beyond a glass wall, I knew I was finally complete.”
He brings his forehead to mine in a way I’m starting to realize is a meaning of deep connection for Hallans.
“Don’t you see, Selina?” he asks softly. “Fate gave you those eyes, so that I would know. What to search for. What to yearn for at dusk and long for each day. Fate gave you those eyes so that when I found you, I would have no doubt that you were mine.”
And just like that, with just a few simple words about a fate I barely understand, a lifetime of pain over eyes that weren’t the same fades.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“You never need to thank me for speaking the truth.” He backs away and juts his chin at my plate. “Eat. Then, we’ll bathe together.”
I don’t even stop to savor the taste of the rest of the things on my plate, in such a rush to get done and join Bothaki in the bath.
As we walk to the bathing hall, people bow and smile. I don’t know when I’ll ever get used to such respect and reverence, but according to Vabila, I will. When we reach the hall, Bothaki puts his hand into the panel and the door slides open. There are three males in the main bath today, but the moment they see, not Bothaki, but me, they look down, staying that way as we walk past them. When we get to a private room, Bothaki closes the door, and a button press later, the privacy screen closes.
Bothaki brought along the bag that he returned from his bath with yesterday. He opens it now, pulling out things much like what Vabila laid out for me yesterday, except this time, I get the distinct feeling, I will not be washing myself. His eyes devour me as I let the smock drop to the floor. I would have thought before that the desire in a man’s gaze would dampen after he’s had what he wanted with you, but Bothaki looks at me just the same. Like I am every single thing he’s ever desired standing before him. I watch him right back as he removes his belted pelt, cock hard underneath, his hand wrapping around it as he approaches me.
“Don’t look at me like that when I can do nothing about it,” he all but growls.
“And why can’t you?” I ask.
“You’re sore, I’m sure. I don’t want to cause you any pain. The water will help, though.”
He extends his hand and I take it, letting him pull me into the water. We wade deeper and stop when the warm water laps at my neck. He begins to tell me about many things on Hallalah that, like the water we’re in, have healing properties, but I’d be lying if I said my full attention is on our conversation. How can it be when he’s washing me, lathering soap on my skin, running his hands along my body, and I can feel his cock prodding against me each time he moves close enough? His hands are slow and gentle on me. They knead my shoulders, but all I can concentrate on is his cock grinding into my ass. His fingers massage my breasts, but that only means he’s in front of me now and his hardness is against my stomach, making me want to beg him to pick me up in his arms so I can wrap my legs around his waist and feel him where I truly want to.