Forsaken (21 page)

“Send it now.”

Silence descended on the cabin as Raina started to undress. It was still relatively early, but she didn’t feel like socializing. She’d meant what she said in the message, but hearing the words also made her feel guilty. They were being horribly unfair to Raylon. He hadn’t done anything wrong and yet he’d been shut out of a very important opportunity. What if she was the only female on Earth compatible with his DNA? It was hard to think about Raylon objectively when Kotto was already integrated into her system.

The following morning, Raina was still restless and work was no longer an adequate distraction. Bandar was supervising the large work crew Kotto had assigned to help them tame the jungle, which left Raina and Ashley more or less alone.

“How much do you know about the physiology of Rodyte mating?” Ashley’s shocked expression made Raina laugh. “Not the actual mating. I’m pretty sure I understand that part. I meant the attraction phase. Kotto said males are drawn to a potential mate by her scent, but often touch is needed to ignite the attraction for the female.”

“You know more about it than I do.” Ashley set her datapad on the shelf to her right as she looked at Raina. They were cleaning out the largest of three storerooms and establishing an inventory. Raina couldn’t figure out what she would need to get this place running again until they determined which supplies were already on hand. “Bandar touched me moments after we met, so I never noticed the difference.”

“He touched you how?” It was easy to picture Bandar backing Ashley into the nearest wall and kissing her senseless. Rodytes had no interest in being politically correct. They celebrated their predatory nature and made no apologies for their aggression.

“There was nothing romantic about it. I was bleeding to death at the time,” Ashley reminded.

“That’s right. Letos stabbed you, so Bandar picked you up and took you to Dr. Irron.”

“Why the questions? I thought you’d pretty much made up your mind.”

“I have, but what if I only feel this certain about Kotto because Raylon hasn’t touched me yet?”

Ashley’s eyes widened and her mouth formed a dramatic O. “Don’t let Kotto hear you talk like that.”

“He might not like the idea of Raylon touching me, but he wouldn’t want to bond with someone who isn’t confident in the decision to join with him.”

“Or he’d work even harder to make you confident,” Ashley predicted. “Rodytes are tenacious. Trust me. Kotto wouldn’t let you go without a fight.” She chuckled then added, “Or should I say
another
fight?”

Raina knew Ashley was right, but none of this was helping Raina resolve the conflict. “Raylon stopped by my cabin after you left the other day and apologized.”

“Meaning, you’re not afraid of him anymore?”

“That’s part of it.” She moved a case of nitrogen-infused gel from one side of the wide shelves to the other. “But mostly, I don’t want to slam the door in his face without even giving him a chance. It just doesn’t seem right.”

Ashley nodded as she picked up her datapad. “I get it. If you don’t at least let him touch you, you’ll spend the rest of your life wondering what might have been.”

“This way, I’ll have no doubt that Kotto and I are meant to be together.”

The next few days flew by once Raina focused on her goals. The work crew had made incredible progress in six short days. The paths crisscrossing the jungle had been restored and about half of the sprawling plant beds had been tamed. Unfortunately, many of the original plants had been completely choked out by the overgrowth, so Raina would have to start from scratch. The setback didn’t discourage her, however. She used the loss as an opportunity to organize the layout more to her liking.

After responding to Kotto’s message each evening, Raina spent several hours researching Rodyte agriculture. One week on the ship had proven she didn’t know much about what Rodytes liked to eat. Other than their mates, of course. The wicked thought sent heat curling through her body and made her heart ache. Was this continual longing a side effect of the mark Kotto had left on her or was it just her body’s way of reminding her that she’d already found her mate?

Her mate. A permanent partner. Someone with whom she would build a future. The possibility wasn’t nearly as disconcerting as it would have been the week before. When one was
inside
the moon, renovating a sustainable food cave for a band of rebel aliens, it was hard to find anything surprising.

By the time Bandar dismissed the workers on day seven, anticipation had made Raina nearly giddy. They’d moved all the supplies into one storeroom so the other two could be scrubbed and the shelves reinforced. She locked the full storeroom and turned around, preparing to leave the area. But as she approached the main entrance, the doors parted for Raylon.

She fought back the immediate surge of disappointment. She’d hoped Kotto would come rushing to her side, desperate for their separation to end.

“Hi.” She tried to sound more enthusiastic than she felt.

He started to speak then his eyes narrowed and he moved closer. “When was the last time you saw him, touched him?”

They both knew who he meant, but the implied accusation shifted her right back into defensive mode. “In the conference room seven days ago. Kotto promised he wouldn’t touch me and he hasn’t. We’ve exchanged messages, but they weren’t even interactive.”

His lips pressed into a disapproving line, but she saw frustration not accusation in his eyes. “I need to touch you to be sure. Will you allow it?”

“Of course.” She waited until he looked into her eyes to add, “I’m not intentionally sabotaging you. I know how important this is.”

“And yet all you think about is him.” It wasn’t even a question. They both knew it was true. He raised his hand slowly, giving her plenty of time to turn away. His warm knuckles brushed her check and followed her jawline down to her chin. Then he stroked her bottom lip with his thumb as tension pulsed between them. “The only reason his scent would still cling to you after seven days is because you don’t want it to fade. We might be genetically compatible, but it’s obvious you’ve made your choice.”

Rather than deny it or give him false hope, she lowered her gaze. “I’m sorry. This is no reflection on you. I just—”

“Want Kotto.”

She nodded and he lowered his hand. “Then go to him. I wish you all the best.”

She looked up to make sure he was sincere, then her heart fluttered and she could no longer fight back a beaming smile. On impulse, she rocked to the balls of her feet and kissed his bristly cheek. “Thank you,” she whispered then rushed from the jungle to search for her mate.

* * * * *

Kotto tore off his uniform top and stuffed it into the recycle bin. After scrubbing under his arms and washing his face, he retrieved a fresh top from the closet. That was as far as he got when the visitor chime sounded.

“Raina Solano to see you, sir.”

Raina? What was she doing here? Didn’t she realize Raylon would expect equal time with her now? “Let her in.” It was dangerous to be alone with her. He wanted to see her, touch her,
claim
her so badly, he wasn’t sure he trusted himself. He struggled into the shirt as he waited for the door to open, but had only secured the top fastener when she flew across the cabin and into his arms.

“Oh Kotto.” She pushed to her toes and kissed his mouth. “I missed you.”

Unable to resist such an enthusiastic welcome, he picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He took control of the kiss as she released the fastener on his uniform top and tugged the garment off his shoulders. “You shouldn’t be here.”

She raised her head and smiled at him. “Your scent still covers me. Raylon said—”

“You’ve already seen him?” Jealousy stabbed into his soul, but he did his best not to let it show.

“Yes. He said the only reason your mark would survive our separation is if I wanted you and only you.”

Everything within him shouted with joy, but he needed to hear the words before he acted on the implication. “Did he accept your choice?”

“He understood that it was pointless to pursue me, so he released us to be together.”

“Is this what you really want, to be mine and mine alone?”

She squeezed him with her legs and caressed him with her warm hands. “I’d think that much was obvious. I’m not being exactly subtle here.”

“Say it, Raina. I need to hear you say it.”

“I want you and only you.” She took his face between her hands and reinforced the claim with a passionate kiss. When their mouths finally parted, she nipped his bottom lip and added, “But I desperately need a shower before we play.”

“I think that can be arranged.” He carried her through his bedroom and into the utility room. Though larger than any other bathroom on the ship, the area was still compact and functional rather than decorative.

They quickly undressed each other, leaving their discarded garments in a dirty heap on the floor. The shower enclosure wasn’t really big enough for two, but they didn’t care. They clung to each other as the cleansing mist rained down upon their bodies. Their mouths moved hungrily and their hands never stopped exploring. They washed each other with the same breathless urgency. Kotto was anxious to spread out on his bed where they could take their time and learn every contour and texture of each other.

He wrapped her in a large drying cloth as she stepped out of the shower. Gods she was beautiful, so delicate and feminine. “Do you understand what’s about to happen?”

She laughed and a pretty flush crept across her cheeks. “I’m not a virgin, Kotto. I know where everything goes.”

“I mean the bond.” He framed her face and guided her gaze to his. This was important. He needed to be sure she understood their options. “We can just have sex. It will feel incredible and help ease this ache, but it won’t satisfy for long. Or I can claim you. I’ll anchor the link between our minds while our bodies are joined. That’s the way it’s supposed to be between Rodytes.”

“That will make us soul-bonded mates?”

He nodded. “It’s the first step in that process, but it takes more than once for the link to solidify. You would still have weeks, maybe months, to change your mind, depending on how often we do this.”

“Can we share our emotions without anchoring the link?”

Trying not to let his disappointment overwhelm the moment he just nodded.

She smiled up at him, mischief sparkling in her eyes. “Don’t look so devastated. I want the link as badly as you do. But doesn’t Irron need to start the transformation procedure before our link is formed? He was grumbling about Bandar and Ashley jumping the gun.”

With a shaky smile he pulled her into his arms. “I’d forgotten all about that.” He released a tight laugh. “How selfish of me.”

She snuggled against his chest. The drying sheet pooled around her ankles as her breath warmed his skin. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“If you’re still considering participation, I guess this will have to be a trial run.”

“Or several trial runs.” She grinned. “I’ve needed you for so long, I doubt I’ll be satisfied after only one try.”

“Then I’ll keep trying until you beg me to stop.” He scooped her up in his arms and carried her out into the bedroom. The area felt cool after the humid closeness of the utility room. She tensed in his arms as they neared the bed. He nuzzled the side of her neck and whispered, “What’s wrong?”

“I know babies aren’t an issue without a soul bond, but what about STDs? I know I’m clean.”

He nipped her jaw then lowered her feet to the floor. “The immune system of a Rodyte is capable of eradicating most diseases. And whatever our biology fails to destroy our medi-bots neutralize.”

“That must be handy,” she muttered.

“You’ll know soon enough. I’m pretty sure medi-bots will be part of the transformation procedure when and if we decide to participate.”

She seemed pleased by his answer. “I’m glad we’re both clean.” She glanced away before she admitted, “I don’t want anything separating your body from mine.”

The hushed confession sent desire spiraling through his body. He swept her into his arms again, kissing her deeply as he placed her in the middle of the bed. His dominant nature surged as he crawled on top of her. She wasn’t the only one who had been aching for the past seven days. It was all he could do not to shove his cock deep inside her and stake his claim right then and there.

Her legs parted, making room for him between her thighs, but she wasn’t ready for him. Not really. He arched over her, skimming her nipples with his chest as he caught her wrists and drew her hands over her head. “Don’t touch me.”

“But I want to, I need to touch you.”

He tightened his fingers around her wrists and made his voice snap with authority. “Not yet. I’ve waited too long and I want you too badly. I’ll let you touch me all you want next time.”

“I’ll hold you to that.”

Gradually, he released her hands and breathed a sigh of relief when she kept her arms positioned as he’d arranged them. He brushed his fingers along the underside of her arms then along her sides. She wiggled and twisted, obviously restless. Her nipples were already beaded, but he needed to see them even more tightly peaked. And more importantly, he needed to know that his mouth had produced the response in her body.