by Sabrina Kade
I wave him off. “I’m fine… just…”
“She had an awful dream a few days ago,” Sloane fills in.
“Ahh,” Exer nods as though he understands. Maybe he does. I don’t know. I don’t know if I care.
I don’t offer any more conversation, and the chatting around me continues once again. I steal occasional looks up at Sloane and Exer, Celeste, Phoebe, and Ellis, and some Sidyths, but the conversation is pretty mundane. I can’t help wondering why Dolan hasn’t come to see me. Why hasn’t he come to see me? Did I do something wrong?
“Where’s Dolan’s room?” I blurt, and everyone falls silent once again. Shit. That probably wasn’t the subtlest way to work my way back into the conversation.
“Huh?” Celeste’s dark eyebrows are sky high. Phoebe’s smiling like an idiot, and Ellis only frowns with an arched eyebrow.
“It’s just,” I backpedal, trying to find some way to make it like I’m not desperate to spend more time with Dolan. Exer leans in closer and rests a large, yet delicate hand across my shoulder. I'm about losing my breath when he tries to make eye contact, and my cheeks are so hot I’m afraid I’ll set him on fire with my embarrassment waves.
“He’s not bothering you, is he? Do you want me to talk to Azan?”
“No!” I gasp, horrified at the idea. I stumble away from his grasp and start waving my hands around like an idiot. “No, Dolan’s fine. Don’t say anything. I want to give him back something he left in the Gathering Room.”
Phoebe pushes away her pale blond hair with an even paler hand. Her smile is wide and accusing. Like she knows something I don’t. “Is that all?”
“Yes,” I huff.
“I know the location of his private dwelling,” Exer says. “I will escort you there and return.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Phoebe intervenes again, beaming like a fucking Cabbage Patch Doll. “I’m sure she’d rather go see him by herself.”
“I don’t mind the company!” I squeak.
“Okay, sure then,” Sloane declares, moving away from the pack. “We’ll be right back—”
“It is all right,” Exer assures her, his voice easy and buttery soft. “You stay here and talk to the other females, yes?”
“But…” Sloane’s blue eyes trail across Exer and I as he moves me closer to the doorframe. “I don’t mind.”
“It shall be brief.”
“I’ll send him right back,” I call to Sloane before I’m out of the Gathering Room. I can’t shake Sloane’s expression away. She looked pissed off. But that can’t be. She only sees Exer as a friend. She said so herself! And yet, and I can’t stop thinking about her face as I’m finally alone with Exer as he leads me to Dolan’s room.
I should say something. The quiet is killing me, but Exer isn’t a big talker unless he’s around Sloane, and I’m too nervous to say anything around him. So we continue to walk in silence and around a corner, probably out of earshot for any of the girls in the Gathering Room.
“Thank you.” My voice sounds funny, and despite what happened with Dolan a few days ago, I’m still shy around Exer’s human-like appearance. “For walking me to Dolan’s room. Thank you.”
His chin lifts and drops once in acknowledgment, offering nothing else to the conversation as we walk. I hear Blythe saying something to Korben in their room, and with a small peek inside I can see that she’s getting big. Really big. Probably in her third trimester. The first mixed species baby is going to be born soon on Hethdiss. It’s insane to think about.
“That’s his dwelling.” I lift my head, and sure enough, Exer’s pointing out a room in the corner of a dark hallway. These dwellings aren’t quite as lovely as Korben’s and Hujun’s, but I guess that’s because Dolan doesn’t directly work for the prince. Still, I wish this hallway looked more welcoming. Dolan’s a nice enough alien. I could offer to fix this indoor cul-de-sac.
“Awesome,” I say to Exer, moving toward Dolan’s room. “Do you think he’s there?”
He frowns. “Do you want me to stick around?”
“No, t-that’s all right,” I mutter, hating how nervous I still sound around him. “I can always wait around. His curtain’s open, so that means he doesn’t mind visitors?”
Exer nods. “If open, you can stay. If you want.”
I do want. “You can head back to Sloane.” His eyes widen, and a few scales on his shoulders splay away from the skin. “I know you’re itching to get back to her.”
“I…” He can barely form a sentence. He’s like me in a way. He gets so nervous around the person he likes. Only, Exer doesn’t care for me. He probably never will. I’m just kidding myself by thinking that he’ll look at me the same way he looks at Sloane one day. Maybe it does have nothing to do with looks. Dolan said it himself.
It has nothing to do with human beauty standards. He wants her for his Chosen mate.
My shoulders relax as this realization dawns on me. Exer’s never going to kiss me. Those humanoid eyes and hunched shoulders will never be mine. The best thing I can do is cheer him on. And maybe, despite what Sloane says, perhaps she wants him as a Chosen, too.
“I hope you—”
“What is going on here?” A new voice enters our conversation, and I jump away from Exer like someone just dropped a toaster in the bathtub. Spinning, who else could I expect to be there other than Dolan? And oh, Dios mío, he looks pissed off. He storms at Exer and me, and for some reason, my first instinct is to shoot my arm out and protect him from Dolan’s anger.
“Nothing’s going on,” I squeak as Dolan looms closer. “I asked to see your room.”
Dolan arches a brow. I’ve caught him off guard, but he still eyes Exer with malice.
“Exer offered. He was about to leave when—”
“When what?” he hisses, trying to move me aside to get to Exer. “What were you about to say to him? You hope he what?”
“It’s nothing,” I grumble, not wanting Dolan to hear about how I’m going to start cheering on Exer and Sloane. I get the feeling he’s not going to let this go until I speak the truth, though. I roll my eyes. “It’s nothing, Dolan.”
“Tell me,” he grumbles. “Were you about to ask him for a pleasure hug?”
I blush. What the hell is he talking about? Oh no. What I did a few days ago. He’s calling it a pleasure hug. “No!” I try and fail to hide my embarrassment.
“I received no hug and no pleasure,” Exer says stiffly. “I am heading back to the Gathering Room—”
“She is my mate, Exer. Mine!” Dolan sounds like a pissy two-year-old who’s about to have his favorite toy taken away, and I’m not sure if I’m excited or mortified by his strong reaction.
“I have no interest in your mate.” Exer sounds bored, and though his words sting a little, I’m shocked when they don’t hurt as much as it would have a few months ago.
“Then you will leave her be,” Dolan hisses. “If she ever offers you the pleasure hug, you will refuse. You have a mate. Prince Korben said we are only to have one. Layla is mine.”
“Dolan, please. As I said, I have no interest in your mate. I don’t know what a pleasure hug is.”
“Dolan, please—” I start, but he’s already on a roll.
“This is what females call a hug, but what they seek is pleasure.”
“Dolan…” I cover my face with my hands.
“Once secure, the female rides upon your cock through your clothing until finding release. It is quite pleasurable, but you cannot have this with my mate. Try it with your own.”
“Dolan!” I scream, punching him hard on the chest. “Please stop. I wasn’t asking him for a hug, okay? So stop sharing our business. Please?” I’m all but pleading with my eyes, and Dolan slumps. He knows how little I make eye contact with him, so he’s probably shocked to shit when I’m practically standing directly under his chin and staring hard at him. “It’s nothing,” I say again. “Pleasure hugs as you call them? I only gave one to you. Ugh, and I’m pr
obably only going to give them to you after this whole experience.”
“Because you are mine?” he hisses, resting his hands on my hips.
I pull away, but not as hard as I used to. “Because… I…” I shake it away. “What I was going to say to Exer was that I hoped he got what he wanted with Sloane one day, okay? That’s it.”
His eyes widen. Glancing over my shoulder, I see that Exer is shocked as well. He grunts something that is probably supposed to be a response and spins away before Dolan can say anything to him. I’m relieved when Exer’s gone. This whole experience has been beyond embarrassing.
Pleasure hug. Mother of God.
Dolan squeezes my hips, bringing my attention back to him. Golden eyes with long lashes bore down into mine as though he’s trying to take a peek inside my brain and find out if I was telling the truth.
“You wanted to see me?” His words sound raw when uttered, and he pulls me closer to his chest. I don’t push away. I stare up at him, enjoying the look of possession in his face. I hate how good jealousy looks on him because no one (alien or human) has ever looked at me the way Dolan’s looking at me right now. “That is why Exer walked you to my private lair?”
I nod.
“You wanted to see me?” It’s as though he can’t quite believe it. If he needs me to say it a million times, I guess I’ll oblige.
“I haven’t seen you in days, Dolan. I thought you were mad at me about what I did… or something.” I shrug, feeling embarrassed as his grip grows more possessive. Our chests come together, and my nipples harden under my top. I’m sure he feels them, but he’s still only looking at my eyes. But his cock is getting harder. I sure as shit feel that.
“Mad at you? For what you did? You mean the pleasure hug, yes?”
My cheeks grow hot. “I wouldn’t call it that, but—”
“I was not mad at you,” he says. “If anything, I liked it too much. I had to stay away from you. I wanted to keep my promise, and I was afraid that if I saw you, I would not be able to control myself.” He stares down at me from his great height of almost seven feet, making me feel smaller and more feminine than I’ve felt my entire life.
He was nervous to be around me. He was afraid of losing control around me.
Me. He enjoyed the pleasure hug so much that he avoided me for days because he worried about losing control. Taking something from me that I wasn’t offering.
I swallow hard, daring to wrap my arms around his waist, seeking out his toned asscheeks and squeezing them. I smirk, shocked when his knees buckle in my grip, and he straightens, looking shockingly playful.
“Why do you squeeze me there?” His eyebrow cocks. “Is this how humans Choose their mate?”
“I’m not squeezing you like that. I could never do that.”
“So why do you…” I squeeze him again. His knees buckle. His cock bobs. I can’t stop smiling.
“Maybe it’s only to get a smile out of you.”
“Smile?” Oh my God, it’s almost like he doesn’t understand what I’m saying. “I smile.”
“Sometimes, but not nearly enough.” I don’t squeeze his butt again, but I don’t move my arms away from his body either. It feels too good. I like his strength. I like how he’s big, but not intimidatingly so like York or Ellis’ mates. Honestly? I like that he’s thicker and more built than Exer – in the arms, anyway. “You have a nice smile.”
He stares down at me, slicking a long, forked tongue across his full lips. “What else is nice?”
“About what? About you?” He nods wordlessly. “Oh… well, uh.” Unabashedly, I look over his body. There’s a lot of nice things going on there if I’m honest with myself. He’s muscular, but not overly so other than his arms. His scales are well placed. They’re on the entirety of his arms with a few on his chest, but his face is completely clear. He has fangs, but they’re not scary. It’s clear they’re well taken care of. He has a shockingly white smile (when he smiles), and his nose is surprisingly human, not overly broad like a lot of the others.
Dolan is a fine-looking alien, for sure.
“I guess I like everything,” I admit, shrugging, as a blush threatens to spread across my cheeks once more.
Cripes. I’m worried that Dolan isn’t going to be able to control himself, but he remains still as though soaking in my words like a sponge.
Can this be real? Can someone as gorgeous (if not a bit annoying and arrogant) have feelings for me? Real and true feelings? Like, forget-about-the-past-and-I’ll-protect-you-like-a-shoujo-manga-hero, feelings?
“So, you liked the pleasure hug, huh?” I ask when I can no longer take the silence.
He swallows hard above me. He’s skeptical. He’s not sure where I’m going with this. “It was enjoyable,” he dares.
“So enjoyable that you had to avoid me for several days?” He nods, still unsure. “So, what…” I loosen my grip around his waist slightly so I can look up at him fully, “… what if we did more than that? Would you avoid me for a longer period?”
He considers this. “I don’t know.”
I have to appreciate his honesty, even if his words sting. “And you would avoid me simply because you’re afraid of losing control around me?” He nods. “And you’re afraid of losing control around me because…”
“You would not like it. You do not want pleasure from me yet, but I would be tempted to take it. Back home…” his brows pinch together as though some distant memory gives him great pain, “… if a male wants pleasure, he takes it. He does not ask. Prince Korben did not like this. That’s why we are here. If I disobeyed that, it would be a great dishonor. Prince Korben would not like it. My brother would not like it.” His voice drops. “I would not like myself if I did something to you that you did not ask for.”
“Oh…” I’m gaping like an idiot, shocked by the bits and pieces of Dolan’s people. I can’t be too sure, but it almost sounds like males can rape women if they want to. Without consequences. It’s a sickening thought. And though Dolan could easily overpower me, he doesn’t want to. He wants to be respectful of Prince Korben’s wishes and ideals.
He wants to be respectful of me.
“But what…” I tried softly, rising on my tiptoes. Damn, rising on my tiptoes doesn’t bring me much closer to his face and all I’m getting in return is an ache in my calves. I lower myself back down. “What if I didn’t mind you losing control? Just a little bit?”
He arches an eyebrow. “You wish to Choose me?”
I shake my head. I’m not ready for that. The concept of Choosing sounds so final. “I’m asking about losing control on me? What if I wanted you to just a little bit?”
He leans forward, searching my face with an intensity that forces my knees to buckle. His tongue darts out. “You are aroused? Now?”
I blush. “Don’t bother being subtle, Dolan.”
“I apologize. I could not help it. The scent of your cunt is incredible. I wish I could taste it.”
“You want to go down on me?” I blink hard, taking in Dolan with new eyes. Did I say annoying and arrogant? Well, he still is, but now all I can think about is his thick arms locking me into place on his bed, spreading me wide and driving his tongue between my thighs.
“Go down? I wish to lick your cunt. Lap up your juices. Make you scream—”
“All right, all right, I get the picture!” I squirm around in his grasp, but he holds on tight, giving me no room to escape. I can only see him. And without a moment to squeal, he lifts me off the ground, backs into his room, and pulls the curtain shut. All while keeping me in his hands. Damn. The look in Dolan’s eyes is almost entirely feral, hazy with lust as he continues to peer down at me.
He lifts a single hand and cups my cheek before twirling a strand of my hair through his fingers. I shudder under his touch. I’ve never felt so small and delicate. The number on the scale back home is the last thing on my mind. Not to mention Shep and my father. The only thing I can focus on is the intense expression on Dolan�
�s face as he assaults me with his sexual attention.
I’m clothed, but naked under his intense gaze.
I pinch my thighs together, embarrassed by how easily he arouses me lately.
“Repeat it, please,” he rasps, dropping his hand to my shoulder and curling his fingers around my flesh.
“Say what?” I’m frozen under his gaze.
“That you wanted to see me.”
“I wanted to see you.” The words fly from my lips without a second thought, and the look on Dolan’s face is so enthusiastic that I can’t help wrapping my arms around his neck. God, I wish he weren’t so tall. Kissing him from down here is an impossible experience. How the hell do the other girls do this with their aliens? Especially Ellis?
Dolan’s shoulders relax at my words and then bunch up. “Again.”
“I wanted to see you.”
“Again.”
“I wanted to see you, Dolan.”
“Again. Loudly.”
“I wanted to see you!” The scream feels good as it bursts from my throat, and Dolan continues to look pleased and surprised. Maybe it doesn’t bother him so much right now that I won’t take him as a mate. Perhaps the fact that I’m taking him as a person means so much more. It should. My nipples are hard as diamonds when Dolan lowers his hands to my breasts, testing boundaries without a word. When his fingertips brush across my nipples, and I gasp in surprise, his eyes find mine, seeking permission to keep going.
I want him to keep going.
Why didn’t I want him to do this before? The millions of reasons I could write out for why I can never be with Dolan don’t exist when he’s right here. Not when he looks at me like this. Not when he tenderly caresses my breast over the fabric of my top. My breasts aren’t as big as Blythe’s, but hers look so enormous because the rest of her is so tight and small. Not me. I’m fluffier than most of the other girls. I don’t mind most of the time. Hopefully, Dolan doesn’t care either.
“You like this,” he hisses, teasing my nipples a bit more roughly. Confidence is returning to him, but not in a way that pisses me off. After all, he’s being patient. I suppose he’s allowed to point out that I’m growing more aroused with each touch. Dolan inhales sharply. “Yes. You like this.”