The Healer's Kiss: Book Four of the Forced To Serve Series (38 page)

Ania laughed. “Yes, I will stand by you. Did you ever read about what a Greggor claiming entails?”

“I tried, but each time I got to the part about how they marked their females physically, I had to stop,” Boca said. “It made me too angry to continue.”

“May the Creators watch over you then for going into it blind,” Ania teased. “You’re braver than you think.”

“Or more foolish,” Boca corrected, opening the door for them both to walk out.

Chapter 26

“Kefira insisted on spending the night with Lieutenant Trax. Medical is empty. There is no reason for both of us to stand guard over the last patient,” Malachi said. “Go get some rest.”

“Boca is avoiding me, and I have no desire to lie awake staring at the ceiling. I can usually go three nights without even needing a stimulant. I am happy to stand guard,” Chiang said.

Malachi gazed down into the stasis chamber at the form of Rena Trax now frozen in time. “Don’t worry, Doctor. I’m not going to do anything unspeakable to the emissary’s host body in your absence.”

Chiang laughed. “Not even you are that desperate.”

Malachi looked up and met Chiang’s understanding gaze. “The emissary was the first female I ever felt true compassion for in my entire existence. I desired not only bonding but a deeper connection. Rena’s body wanted mine, but the emissary did not want any merging. Such an impossible situation never really had a chance of working out. So tell me, why should I care that this body still lives? It belongs in the recycler.”

Chiang shook his head. “No. Not yet. Let’s wait a bit longer. One of us will get a clear message when it’s time to take that final step. When it happens, we’ll make a collective decision to put it in the recycler. You won’t go through it alone.”

“Did they teach you that mentally supportive stuff when you trained as a healer?” Malachi asked.

“No, I’ve gained it since I met Boca. Neither of us picked a normal female,” Chiang said. “I know because I have had many normal ones. They are pleasant bonding partners, but little more. Why is it that a natural mate is like getting a stone in your shoe?”

“Kefira said it was about energy, which is probably true. My desire for your mate was baser in nature. I wanted to share all that negativity and fierceness. Part of her is the calmest creature that ever walked, but the other part of Boca is like a wild, untamed animal. I still find the contradiction extremely appealing.”

“As much I want to harm you for having such an understanding of her true self, I couldn’t have described Boca any better,” Chiang admitted. “She hides her fierceness from patients.”

“Your lack of claiming is keeping me hopeful, Chiang. If you want to make sure other males stay away, you’re going to have to act on your urges. How long do you think you can put off marking her as yours?” Malachi demanded.

“Until my supply of calming drugs is diminished or Boca comes to her senses,” Chiang replied. “I gave her my word that I would not enslave her emotions.”

“Foolish Greggor,” Malachi teased. “Claim her. Boca does not know her own mind.”

“Unfortunately true,” Chiang said. “But I will not break my promise to her.”

“There was a time when I thought mated males were the weakest of all creatures for their willingness to sacrifice for a single female,” Malachi observed. “Yet now I find myself willing to bargain almost anything for the return of a creature who is beyond the corporeal world more than I am. I have no right to chastise you about your mating relationship.”

“Perhaps my reticence defies logic, but what you are experiencing in your grief is very normal,” Chiang said. “You have a right to mourn her absence, Malachi. I honor your feelings. If it were Boca in the stasis unit, I would not be behaving nearly as calmly as you.”

“My demeanor is the result of being forbidden for two thousand years to be anything but calm. The emissary told me many times that all she wanted was to shed the skin suit she wore and return to her energy state. Shouldn’t I be happy for her, that in all likelihood, she has achieved that goal?”

“Perhaps in time you will be,” Chiang said.

“Perhaps,” Malachi repeated, but looking into the chamber he doubted it was going to occur so long as her host body breathed.

***

Boca stood outside of Chiang’s door wondering if there was ever going to come a time when she wasn’t nervous about crossing his threshold.

“I heard you sighing all the way over in Medical, but I’m not breaking in for you again,” Malachi said, laughing when a startled Boca called out and moved into a defensive stance. “Sorry. Did I frighten you, Little Warrior? How in the hell did you ever survive on Lotharius?”

Boca swore in a stream of Sumerian while she rubbed her stomach and relaxed.

“Your insults mean nothing to a demon. Now I’m sorry I talked Engineering into an override. All you have to do is say your name to get in,” Malachi advised.

“Why would you do that?” Boca asked. “I never asked for access.”

“The Greggor has everything inside the room programmed for you. I don’t know why he didn’t do the blasted door.” Malachi frowned and shook his head. “You scramble our good doctor’s brain. Boca Ador. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

“Why are angry at me?” Boca asked, having to work to swallow past the tightness in her throat.

“Because I would just as soon you never go into Chiang’s quarters again. The Greggor is a fool for waiting. In my opinion, he deserves to lose you. Plus, the other female I wanted is gone now,” Malachi said coldly, shrugging. “Why do you think?”

“I have made my choice, and it is not you,” Boca said firmly. “It will never be you. We have discussed this before. My mind on the matter will never change.”

“Really? Are you sure it will never be me?” Malachi demanded. “You’re still standing out here in the hall where I am. Actions speak much louder at times like these.”

“You are right. They do.
Boca Ador
requesting access
,” she said firmly, pressing the com button.

“Override initiating,” the com unit replied and followed the announcement with a click.

Boca pushed the door open and starting inside.

“Greggors bite their mates to mark them,” Malachi warned. “I dare you to bite him back.”

Boca didn’t answer as she went inside to face her destiny.

***

“Malachi lied, Boca. He doesn’t want you now. His compassion is only for the emissary,” Chiang said from the bedroom.

Sighing in defeat, she walked to tiny bedroom. “I suspected he was just harassing me. You heard our discussion?”

“Aye. All of it,” Chiang admitted, fighting his smile. “I heard every word clearly.”

“Then you know how I feel…” Boca said sadly.

Chiang snorted. “No. I know what you said to Malachi in answer to his taunts. That is not the same thing as being willing to be mated. We both know that.”

The silence stretched between them as Boca hovered in the doorway, her gaze glued to the outstanding nude male filling the entire surface of the bed.

Chiang’s determined tone when he spoke startled her as much as Malachi’s taunts had. “The next bonding between us will be a Greggor claiming. If you’re not ready for that step, then you’d better leave. I’m not feeling noble at the moment.” After delivering the warning, he crossed his large hands over his chest. “The demon taunted me to action too.”

“What’s going to happen when I have to go to Rylen to complete my training?”

“I will go with you of course. Healers are always needed. I am very familiar with Siren physiology. Working for the academy, I will learn about other species,” Chiang said.

“You would leave the ship for me?” Boca asked.

“Aye. If we were completely mated, I would have to do so. They don’t make anything strong enough to stifle a Greggor’s desire for his mate,” Chiang said honestly. “Do you have other concerns?”

“I have thousands,” Boca declared.

“I can probably handle one more today,” Chiang said on a laugh.

“Fine. I want you to never desire another female ever again. Can you promise that?”

Chiang laughed. “I was merely admiring her legs, Boca. And you were running your hands over them. Any male would have had the thoughts I did. I’m sorry I let you see it though.”

“What if I wanted another male? What if I have lustful thoughts?” Boca demanded.

“You can have all the thoughts you want,” Chiang said easily. “If you touch another male with true desire, I will break him in half and chain you in our quarters. That’s perfectly legal on my home planet. I don’t share. And I will never ask you to do so. You are an outstanding bonding partner, the best I have ever had. I feel quite certain you can meet all my needs.”

“I would kill you before I let you chain me to anything,” Boca warned.

“Then we would both be dead. Problem still solved,” Chiang said, smiling at the ceiling again. “Anything else?”

“You are infuriating,” Boca said fiercely.

“And you get mean when you feel threatened,” Chiang commented. “I have a lot more descriptions. Perhaps we should make a list of each other’s flaws. Though I have to say this feels like I’m making a purchase more than asking the female I love to be my mate.”

“Why should I choose you?” Boca demanded. “Because it is not clear to me.”

“The only reason for you to choose me is because I have your full compassion,” Chiang said firmly, swallowing hard against his hope that it was truth. “There is no other reason to do so. All I ask is that you want me back at least half as much as I want you. I couldn’t bear to bond with a resistant female. It is beyond me.”

“Resistant?” Boca closed her eyes. “I never even have lustful thoughts of other males. It’s as if you are the only one that exists.”

“For you—I am,” Chiang said. “That’s not arrogance. That’s me wanting to be the only one.”

“And if I say that I still feel I have no choice?”

“Do mates ever really have one? Try to run to the door right now and see how far you get. My noble restraint was gone the moment I heard you tell Malachi you made your choice,” Chiang said.

Boca lifted her hands to remove her clothing.

“No,” Chiang said, rolling to his side and springing up to face her. “This is how much I want you.” He ripped her tunic down the front, finding nothing underneath. His hands trembled. “I will try not to do any permanent damage to you.”

“Must you bite me?” Boca demanded, but the question disappeared in the seal of his mouth over hers. Chiang’s body was already slick with his excitement. She felt the shreds of her tunic falling, and then he rolled her under him.

Greggor filled the air as he tore his mouth free of hers. She felt his fingertips making impressions in her backside as he lifted her for his entry. There was a tiny moment of panic, but it was lost to amazement as she realized she understood what he was saying.

“
MA angajez sa ai toata puterea mea de compasiune
,” he swore. “
Tot CE am este al vostru. I va onora toate va sunt.”

I pledge to you all the strength of my compassion
, Boca heard.
All I am is yours. In return for your love and fidelity, I will honor all you are.

“Chiang,” she called, but his hands and mouth were sending her spinning. The vibrations inside her spiraled.

When he lifted her hips and eased inside her, her muscles clenched around him in welcome. The satisfied sound he made filled the room they were in and Boca grabbed his head to pull his face to hers. He was inside her, over her, wrapped around her. His massive body blocking out everything but him.

“The emissary does not know all my truth. Our children will not be a challenge,” she said harshly, smiling when she heard him laugh. “Do what you must. Just don’t expect me to be a compliant mate.”

Keeping himself within her, Chiang rolled until Boca was astride his lap. He rocked up and into her, a small, tight rhythm that made him feel like he touched the core of her with every stroke. Unchecked now, the heat rose inside him, burning like fire as it sought an outlet. He was giving all of himself to this female. It was a simpler choice for him than he ever imagined it would be.

Boca whimpered in his arms, squirming on his bonding organ, but the pleasure he intended was not going to come so easily to her this time. He rocked steadily as he spoke his intent.

“
Cu aceasta marca, EU te sustin
,” Chiang said roughly, his aggression building to an intolerable pitch. He moaned into her hair, hoping Boca wasn’t going to hate him for what he had to do to appease the Greggor beast within himself.

With this mark I claim you
, Boca heard, but did not understand it in time to brace herself for his teeth sinking into the base of her neck. His nails raked down her back as he gripped her, leaving stinging ridges that had her calling out in alarm and pain.

What was Chiang doing? Then the rocking suddenly culminated, exploding their connection with a blast of heat inside her, shock waves following it. The urge to laugh overcame her surprise, the sound of her merriment an odd accompaniment to feeling his teeth sink down even harder. And then there was a blissful floating feeling that was almost worse than the bite.

“Chiang?” she rasped.

At last he lifted his head, her life force staining his mouth. “
A mea
.”

Boca ran fingertips over his lips, giggling at the way Chiang closed his eyes in pure pleasure. “Am I going to be mad at you about this tomorrow?”

“No,” Chiang said, lifting the bed cover to wipe his mouth and dab at the her neck wound. He would put something on it to heal it shortly. There was no reason for Boca to have to tolerate the three weeks of sealing and scarring that mating marks naturally took while healing. “You won’t be angry for at least a week. I’m sorry for the pheromone effect. It is meant to spare the female pain, but you are having a more severe reaction.”

Boca pushed playfully on his shoulder and giggled. “You sound so much like a doctor.”

“Yes,
A mea
,” Chiang said, putting her forehead against hers. “I now plan to be a doctor for the rest of my life. I have decided it is my true calling.”