Warriors of Phaeton: Dathrow (Bridal Pact)

by Leora Gonzales

  “Admit it, sweet one. If you met her and Tempest now, I would barely get any alone time with you. From what I can tell, you make friends and then get distracted for hours on end. I can only imagine the amount of questions you women would ask her.” Dathrow chuckled as he walked to their apartments, never once setting her down.

  “Well, yeah. I guess so,” Pixie admitted with reluctance. “But I would still like being given a choice instead of being carried off like a child.”

  “Believe me, I do not think of you in any way like a child,” Dathrow stated, giving her a squeeze in his arms. “Plus, it took all of my willpower to sit there as long as we did with this sweet ass in my lap.”

  “Sweet ass?” She giggled at him. “You say the most romantic things to me.”

  Pixie settled into his arms as he toted her back to their apartments. She could get used to being carried around like that.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Once alone in the apartment again, Pixie and Dathrow got cozy on the couch. Sitting with her legs over his lap, she leaned back against one of the square arms on the boxy piece of furniture, wiggling until she was comfortable.

  “This place needs some throw pillows,” she pointed out, wriggling around some more.

  “Why do you need to throw pillows?” he asked confused.

  “I don’t need to throw pillows. We need throw pillows. They’re usually decorative and go on couches and chairs so people can lean against them and snuggle in.”

  Dathrow started rubbing her feet after he slipped off her shoes. “They serve no other purpose than comfort?”

  “And they’re pretty too. This place could use some prettying up, babe.” Glancing around the bland room, Pixie made a gesture with her hand to point at the walls. “You have to admit it’s a pretty sterile environment to look at every day. If it wasn’t for the cool glowing lights, I’d think I was in a mental ward.” She tapped the back of her hand against the plain white couch and raised her eyebrow at him. “It’s like Ikea came in and furnished everything in white.”

  “Ikea?”

  Staring at Dathrow for a moment, Pixie wondered if it was even necessary to explain what an Ikea was. Figuring she might as well save herself the time and effort, she shrugged. “It just needs a little bit of softening up and some color.”

  “We can order what is needed for you to feel comfortable here, Pixie.” Rubbing his thumbs into the bottom of her feet, Dathrow smiled at her. “I want you to feel as if this is home.”

  “We can order stuff?”

  “Yes we can. Make a list of what you want and when the next shift goes down to Earth on a shuttle, I can have them procure your items.”

  “Well…okay then.” Leaning back against the hard arm of the couch, Pixie tried to relax enough to enjoy the wonderful feelings his hands were bestowing upon her feet. Brian had never played with her feet the entire time she and he were together. He wasn’t a touchy-feely type of boyfriend at all, especially with something as intimate as feet. Pixie could complain all she wanted about her back, legs or neck hurting and it was ignored so she just stopped hinting at wanting a massage. Dathrow on the other hand had not even asked before slipping off her shoes and starting to rub. He also seemed to pay mighty close attention to her moans, pressing harder when she let one slip out and not neglecting a part of her foot from the tips of her pink polished toes down to the backs of her ankles.

  “Would you like to watch a film?” His deep voice startled her out of the pleasure coma his hands were putting her into.

  “Sure. What do you want to watch?”

  “I have a huge amount of vids stored. Why don’t you pick?” Dathrow showed her how to work the system until she felt familiar enough to navigate the hundreds of videos he had in his system.

  “Why is Shaun of the Dead listed under the romance section?” Pixie asked, laughing. He had a crazy selection in the Romance folder, including multiple science fiction movies that in no way resembled a love story.

  “It is a romance! They fight off zombies and survive together,” Dathrow said in an offended voice.

  Laughing as she’d managed to rile him up, Pixie clicked on the icon. She’d seen this movie enough times she felt comfortable talking through it while it played. The whole point of them spending more time together was to get to know each other better, anyway, right?

  “What’s your favorite color?” Pixie asked as the opening of the movie started to play.

  “I don’t have one.” Rubbing her feet and watching the screen, Dathrow barely took a moment before replying.

  “What’s your favorite movie then? You seem to have a pretty big collection of them.” Kicking her foot slightly when he tickled the bottom of it, she giggled and settled back down when he got back to rubbing.

  “I like this actor. He makes me laugh and his friend is funny too.” Tilting slightly to face her, Dathrow kept her feet over his lap and started to massage her calves.

  “No higher, buddy. This is what started our last round of hanky-panky and I want to talk some more.” Giving him her most serious face, Pixie felt a twinge of guilt when he looked as if she’d just kicked a puppy.

  “Favorite food?” Pixie tossed out, trying to distract him from being denied a chance at her pants again.

  “I like the pancakes and tamales that Poppy has made for me.”

  “Pancakes and tamales? Not together, I hope,” she teased. “Did Poppy cook for you a lot?”

  “I joined your sister for many meals when she first arrived. Wheaton was busy with the council and she needed an escort. After Hannah arrived, she was moved to another apartment and I kept her company so she would not feel alone.”

  When Dathrow had answered her question, his voice had changed slightly. Noticing not only the slight change in his speech but also the way his eyes shifted to the side, Pixie wondered what made him uncomfortable about the question. “Pops is great, but I’m sorry you got caught up in bride-sitting though. It had to be hard for you to take over watching her all the time while Wheaton was dealing with the Hannah fiasco.”

  Dathrow relaxed and waved his hand. “She is entertaining. Plus, I was able to ask her some questions about a certain sister whom I was curious about.”

  Pixie noticed one of her favorite parts of the movie was about to come on the screen.

  “I love this part.” Watching the screen, she didn’t realize he’d reached for the hand she had resting on the tops of her thighs. As he threaded their fingers together and gave her a squeeze, she couldn’t help the warmth that spread through her stomach when he whispered back, “This is one of my favorite parts also.”

  Throughout the movie, they took turns asking questions and laughing at the other’s answers. When their favorite parts came on, they quieted down until they passed and then resumed. Amazingly enough, Pixie noticed they shared almost all the same scenes. As the movie came to the closing credits, Pixie stretched and realized her tailbone was starting to ache.

  “Damn. Throw pillows are on the top of my list for sure.” Standing up and reaching down for his hand to help him up, she laughed when he gave her an incredulous look. “What? Don’t think I could help you stand?”

  “Pixie, I am sure I outweigh you by at least seventy pounds.” Dathrow stood without her assistance and leaned down for a quick peck. “Are you hungry? I can make us some dinner.”

  “That sounds fabulous. What do you have in mind?” Her stomach growling at the thought of food, Pixie knew that no matter what he made, she’d devour it.

  “Poppy told me that hamburgers were a favorite of yours,” he answered as he walked to the kitchen area.

  “Wow, you really did pump Poppy, didn’t you?” Walking closely behind him, she ran straight into his back when he stopped abruptly.

  “Pump Poppy? I did no such thing!” he said quickly, turning to steady her before she bounced off him and landed on the floor.

  “I meant for information. Pump her for information.” Shaking her head at him, she stepped
up to the bar and pulled out a chair. “Our figure of speech barrier is going to be interesting, that’s for sure.”

  “It has proven interesting so far,” he muttered.

  Making short work of dinner, they kept up with the question-and-answer portion of their evening in between bites.

  “How much higher can you go in your career?” Wiping her mouth, Pixie watched him swallow before answering her.

  “Before you arrived, I was hoping to be eligible for a council seat soon. I have received recognition for my missions completed and leadership. Now I just have to wait until I am awarded a position.”

  “And from there where do you go?”

  “Once a warrior is on the council, they stay appointed unless voted off by a majority of senior members. When I decide I no longer want to serve, I can move freely between other positions in our society. Some warriors go to the training house to teach the next generation, some choose to travel on diplomat missions but no longer have voting privileges,” he explained.

  “So it’s a status thing? Like reaching a higher military ranking?” Pixie asked, trying to understand the structure of their society.

  “Part of it is. The council controls our entire race. They make decisions and laws based on experiences and knowledge they have amassed during their times in the lower ranks. Many of the senior members become mentors to the younger ones who get approved.” Picking up their plates, Dathrow quickly rinsed them and put them into a cabinet next to the sink. “I have great respect for our leaders.”

  “It sounds like they work hard to get where they are now,” she admitted as she scooted off her chair.

  “Not only that, but I know that without the decisions they have made…well, I wouldn’t have you.” Leaning against the counter, Dathrow was surprised when he suddenly had an armful of Pixie.

  “That is the sweetest thing you could have said.” Hugging him tightly, she breathed in the smell of his leather tunic.

  “Even sweeter than telling you that I love your luscious ass?” he teased, as his hands rubbed up and down her back.

  “You said I have a sweet ass, not luscious,” Pixie reminded him with a grin.

  “It is both sweet and luscious and I would very much like it to be naked right now. Will you accompany me to the bedroom?” Dathrow suggested in a low rumble, reaching down to give her cheeks a firm squeeze.

  Pixie stretched up onto her toes to nuzzle his chest. “I would love to. Are you able to stick to the no hanky-panky rule?”

  “It depends on what you consider hanky-panky. I agree that I will not allow my seed to enter your womb. However, I can please you in other forms.”

  “Okay, I agree. No seed entering anywhere and we are golden.” Nodding her head, Pixie shimmied until Dathrow got the hint and hoisted her up by the backs of her thighs so she could wrap her legs around his waist.

  As he walked toward the bedroom door, he leaned close to her ear and nipped her lobe. “I didn’t say my seed would not enter anywhere…just not your womb.”

  Shivering at the thought of taking him in her mouth, Pixie could only squeak when his hands squeezed her tight as he fell with her onto the bed.

  Bouncing in his arms, Dathrow angled Pixie so she landed to his side. “You are so beautiful.” He stared down at her, cupping her face as his gaze tracked everything from the shape of her eyebrows to the tip of her nose.

  “You aren’t too bad yourself, babe,” Pixie said with a sexy smile.

  Stretching up to reach his mouth, Pixie fell into one of the most perfect kisses she’d ever had. Here in this tiny room, they were cocooned in their own little world. Worries fell from her shoulders like leaves falling off a tree. Pixie didn’t think about anything except for the taste of his mouth and the feel of his lips.

  Soon both of them were rolling around on the bed, pulling at clothing and chuckling into each other’s mouths when fabric became stubborn. Hearing a rip, Poppy dragged her mouth free. “Was that my shirt?”

  “Yes. Put that on the list with your thrown pillows and I will replace it,” Dathrow said quickly as he tossed her clothes over his shoulder without a care. The action would have caused her to chuckle if he hadn’t looked so damn sexy doing it. Waiting to see where he was going, Pixie smiled when he reached for her bra. Pulling down her bra but not undoing it resulted in her breasts being lifted by the cups. A perfect offering to his hungry mouth. “I love these,” he groaned, plumping them up even farther with his hands. “They are so soft and warm.”

  As he teased her breasts, Pixie clutched at his hair and shoulders, dragging her nails through his hair and over his skin. The action seemed to spur him on until he was sucking at the hard points with quick motions of his tongue and lips.

  “That feels so fucking good,” Poppy couldn’t help but whisper between moans and gasps as she thrust her nipples closer to his mouth.

  “I will never get enough of your skin, sweet one.” Dathrow gave one last hard suck at the nipple in his mouth before moving up to her neck.

  Pixie’s neck happened to be one of her hot spots. Unable to stop the shivers that took over her body when she felt his hot tongue tracing the crease between her neck and shoulder, she rolled her eyes up at the ceiling.

  Letting his teeth scrape over the sensitive skin, Dathrow whispered exactly what he was going to be doing to her later, his hands moving her hair out of his way as he nuzzled and nipped around her ear and neck.

  “Dath, I need…” Pixie paused, knowing she needed everything this man could give her but not knowing how to ask for it.

  “I know, sweet one. I know.” Moving one of his hands down to the front of her pants, he started rubbing her mound through the fabric.

  Wetness that would eventually ease his way into her body seeped through the fabric. Pixie moaned and opened her thighs as wider. Aching for the fabric to disappear and his fingers to fill the space that was throbbing with need, she reached for the top of her pants.

  Dathrow stopped the motion with a quick hand, to gaze up at her with hunger in his eyes. “My control is thin this evening. It might be better if we do not tempt ourselves too much.”

  Pixie was sure her disbelief and disappointment was apparent on her face. “But—”

  “I can still bring you relief, sweet one.” Dathrow let go of her hand and moved his palm back to the seam of her pants, rubbing up and down in a steady, firm motion. “I do not want you to make a decision while your mind is filled with want. The next time I sink into your body, it will not be my fingers or my tongue, but instead the part of me that you truly crave.”

  “Fuck, Dath. Part of me appreciates the fact you want to give me time…the other part of me wants to rip your pants open and have my way with you.” Letting her head drop back onto the pillow, Pixie let out a groan of frustration.

  “I did not realize myself that this would be so difficult.” Dathrow leaned his forehead against Pixie’s and kissed her lips softly. “I know that if I touch you and feel your liquid heat, I will be unable to stop until I am buried inside you.”

  “Why is it we’re waiting again?” Pixie teased halfheartedly, mad at herself for putting limits on their relationship.

  “Because my bride is intelligent and wants to make sure that the decision she makes is the right one.” Moving to her side, Dathrow linked his fingers with hers. “The choice you make is permanent. It is only smart to be positive before we chance creating a child together. My control is just simply not as strong as I previously believed.” Dathrow squeezed her fingers in his hold and rubbed his thumb over her palm. “I can still give you—”

  Not letting him finish what he was saying, Pixie rolled to face him and put a finger to his lips. “You’re right, Dath. I know that if you touch me, I would be begging for you to finish it.” Pixie whispered, “What can I say? You take my control away as well.”

  For the rest of the night, Pixie lay with her head on his chest and her fingers tracing the muscles on his stomach as he stroked her hair. Asking each o
ther questions and laughing every now and then they talked about their childhoods and favorite things. Before falling asleep, there were whispers of the future. Whispers Pixie felt were going to become a reality sooner rather than later.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Waking up to strong arms surrounding her, Pixie was sure she was in heaven. She’d officially been on the ship for a week now and every day seemed better than the one before. Taking a few moments to soak in the comfort and feeling of safety she was cocooned in, she snuggled back into the warm chest behind her. At the feel of movement behind her, Pixie froze. Hoping she hadn’t ruined the moment, she barely breathed, not wanting to lose his embrace.

  “Good morn, sweet one,” came a low voice from behind her head on the pillow.

  Crap. She had ruined it. Snuggle time was officially over for the moment.

  Pixie started to shift her body to face him when the arm thrown over her body tightened.

  “Don’t move. I like this.” Dathrow moved until he was even closer to her, his larger body cupping hers perfectly.

  Arching her back, she pushed her bottom into his abdomen. “I like this too.” Smiling when she felt Dathrow rumble low in his chest, she rubbed teasingly against him. “I’ve made a decision.”

  “A decision? About us?” His arms tightened around her once more, as if he was nervous of her answer.

  “Yes,” she said clearly. This last week she’d come to terms with what she needed to do. First thing was to stop acting like an idiot. Pixie knew what she wanted and it was time to let him know too. “I want to stay here. I want to be your bride…and I want us to make babies.”

  Dathrow had not moved a muscle. It seemed he was even controlling his breathing behind her. Wanting to see him, Pixie tapped his arms until he released her. Turning over to glance up into his face, she gasped. Never had she seen such happiness in someone’s expression. Smiling back at him, she stretched up to give him a kiss.

  Not giving her a chance to go more than halfway, Dathrow met her lips and immediately opened her mouth with his own to devour her. He rolled until he was poised above her and ate at her mouth until she felt as if she could crawl out of her skin.