Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 40729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 204(@200wpm)___ 163(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40729 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 204(@200wpm)___ 163(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
“That story had a happy ending because it brought you to your mate,” I say, nuzzling her pink nose with mine. “It brought you to me.”
I press my lips to hers for a kiss, which quickly turns hot and heavy. I’m just starting to peel off her shirt when someone bursts into my room.
“You have exactly three hours to test the thermablaster before…” Galen trails off, his eyes fixating on the state of my mate’s partial undress. “Er, meet me in the hall when you’re decent.”
I groan, but it’s then I realize the magnastrikes have quit. Time is of the essence. Quickly, I help Quinn redress and stand, pulling her to her feet beside me. I give her a quick kiss.
“I’ll be back before you know it.”
She hugs my neck tight. “Come back to me.”
“I’ll always come back to you. Even if only to hold you as we enter The Eternals together.” I pull away from her, walking backward.
“You’re a poet, Oz,” she says, grinning. “A true romantic.”
“How’s this for romantic? When we make it out of this alive, I’m going to pretend I’m a just cowboy and you can be my little rogcow. I’m going to tie you up and have my filthy way with you.”
“Giddy up, mate! I’m looking forward to that date!”
On that note, I leave her with a smile on my face, an extra thump in my heart, and an imagination full of ways to give my mate as many orgasms as I can.
I’ll be back because our story’s not over yet.
We’re just getting to the good part.
11
Quinn
Eight Solars Left
I wait until I know for certain Oz is gone from the halls to leave our rooms because I know if I don’t, I’ll beg him to stay with me where it’s safe. From my vantage point at the window, I can see the wall of red clouds growing even closer. Threaded with brilliant flashes of light, their rumbles shake the very foundation of the facility. According to Calix, the geostorms are more severe due to changes in the atmosphere caused by the radiation.
It seems like there isn’t a place on this planet not touched by the destruction of man.
If Oz’s weapon doesn’t work, that destruction will be complete.
I can only hope it doesn’t cost him his life.
“C’mon, Legolas, let’s find something to keep ourselves busy.” He makes a nest in my hair and I give his cephalothorax a little rub and he clicks his pinchers together happily.
I step out into the hall and am met by the sound of a keening wail coming from another room. Molly. She’s either mad enough to be yelling or in enough pain that she can’t cover it with her sugar sweet girl next door charm. Or a combination of both.
Knocking at her room, I wait for her answering call before I enter. “Molly?” I say hesitantly as I step through the sliding doors. “You okay?”
Her room is heavily draped in shadows, so it’s hard to make out her form on the bed at first. When my eyes adjust to the darkness, I find Molly in a nest of blankets, red-faced and bawling her eyes out. Their rooms are identical to mine and Oz’s with a bed underneath a small window and a door leading out to the bathroom. Due to the familiarity I’m able to navigate with ease to her side.
“I-I-I’m just so tired,” she says, her voice bordering on hysteria. “I ca-can’t get comfortable. I try to fall asleep, but I’m so achy nothing feels right and then I’m too t-tired to sleep, which only ma-makes it worse.”
Molly is lying on her side, her belly swollen and protruding in front of her. One of her hands rubs across its surface as though she’s trying to soothe the little one inside.
“Where’s Draven?”
She waves an impatient hand. “He w-went to get Calix, who is out there with Oz. Probably got trapped by the storm, knowing my luck. Anyway, he was worried and couldn’t deal seeing me in pain. Calix supposedly has some medicine that will ease the pain a bit.”
“How can I help?” I ask and sit by her side. Her red hair is matted with sweat against her forehead. Taking a comb of sorts from the notch in the wall that serves as a bedside table, I gently brush her hair back from her face.
“Stay with me for a little while?” she asks, already beginning to calm down some. “I didn’t want to bother Draven because I know how busy the morts are and how hard they’re working, but I don’t want to be alone anymore. I’m used to moving around and doing things. I’m a take charge kind of girl, not a wait and see kind of girl.” She dissolves into soft sobs once more and I hold her hand while the tears pour down her cheeks.