Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
The desire to give himself to her—to offer his throat for her bite and then take her as she bit him—had been almost insurmountable. Which was why those stupid words had come out of his mouth, T’zaren thought grimly.
But it wasn’t just the urge to submit that tormented him because Stri’vor males weren’t wholly submissive. They had possessive, dominant qualities as well, which could be activated if they were pushed too far. And every time he was near Dr. Lucille, he felt himself being pushed closer and closer to the edge.
From now on, he had to do his best to keep from touching her or letting her touch him, T’zaren told himself. It short-circuited his brain and made him do and say stupid things. Things he might regret, as he already regretted asking if she wanted to bite him.
He resolved to keep to himself in the future.
It was the only way for both of them to stay safe.
THIRTEEN
LUCY
Folding space was nothing like Lucy had imagined it to be. It took both no time at all, and all the time in existence. One moment they were in the orbit of Mars and the next moment they were emerging into another place entirely, on the other side of the known universe. But that moment of crossing over and passing through the crimson fold seemed to stretch like taffy, pulling into a long, thin thread that extended out of sight in both directions.
By the time they came out into the space around B’ron Three—which was a dark blue world, dotted with dense areas of deep purple—she had almost forgotten about T’zaren’s insulting remark about how he knew she wasn’t pregnant. It was time to put everything else aside anyway, she told herself. The mission was starting now and she had to be on her best, most professional behavior.
“Whew…” she murmured, shaking her head as she looked out the viewscreen. “So that’s B’ron Three.”
“It is indeed.” T’zaren’s deep voice was flat and he looked straight ahead as he spoke.
Lucy took a deep breath and blew it out impatiently.
“Look, I know you didn’t want to come on this mission with me, but we’re here now, so what do you say we try to get along?”
“What do you mean?” T’zaren raised his eyebrows, looking at her in apparent confusion. “We’re getting along fine. Haven’t I pledged to protect and defend you? Haven’t I given you power over my body, to do with as you please?” he demanded.
“Yes, well…” Lucy was at a loss for a moment, taking in that part about her having “power over his body.” It was, after all, such a very large, muscular body to command. She could certainly think of some things she’d like to do with it—with him—if only he wasn’t so taciturn and cold.
“Look,” she tried again. “I know you gave me your oath and it was beautiful. But then you turned all grumpy and upset again afterwards. I know you don’t like to pretend I’m your wife, but—”
“Not ‘wife’—S’rentha,” T’zaren corrected her. “A S’rentha is more than just a common ‘mate’ or ‘wife.’ For the male she chooses, she is his personal goddess to worship and protect, to defend and pleasure.”
“Okay, well…that sounds like a very intense relationship,” Lucy admitted. It was certainly more intense than her relationship with Mike, which had mostly consisted of watching Netflix on the couch and making love once a week in sessions that lasted five minutes or less.
“It is a Joining of two souls,” T’zaren said in a low voice. “A human like you wouldn’t understand how deep it goes—how far a Stri’vor male is willing to go, what he is willing to do—for his S’rentha.”
“Okay, well I guess I’ll just have to take your word for it,” Lucy said. “The point is, I know you don’t like it but this is the mission—it’s our job. And if we’re going to do it right, we need to work together.”
T’zaren gave a reluctant nod.
“All right, agreed,” he said.
“Good.” Lucy held out a hand to him. “So then, can we please be friends?”
He looked at her outstretched hand warily, as though it was a snake that might bite him.
“Why do you wish to be ‘friends?’ I don’t think it’s necessary for the completion of our mission.”
Lucy held out her hand even more insistently.
“All right, well can we at least agree to end the animosity? I think it would really lighten the atmosphere in here if I didn’t feel like you were sitting over there resenting me for playing a part you don’t think I’m qualified to play.”
“But you’re not qualified to play it,” T’zaren growled.
Lucy almost felt like growling herself with sheer irritation. Men! It didn’t seem to matter if they were human or alien, they were all equally maddening at times!
“Okay, that’s your opinion and you’ve made it abundantly clear,” she said, striving to keep her voice calm and even. “But can we at least agree to work together and play our parts to the best of our ability without biting each other’s heads off?”