Arrival

FER’RO

This is what bliss feels like.

There’s a glow on my face, the taste of my female on my tongue, and her soft body in my arms.

I made her cry out on my tongue many times, until she could not take it anymore, and nothing fills me with more joy than her sated body and the look of happiness on her face.

There’s a glow over her too. A warmth that hadn’t been there the first time I saw her.

I like it.

I take pleasure in her contentment.

“This is nice,” she whispers as she turns in my arms to face me. She runs a hand down my chest before her gaze wanders behind me.

I turn to look at what she’s focused on, but there is nothing there.

“I can almost forget bad things are happening out there when I’m with you.”

Time passes as we lie like this, our blood organs beating in tune with each other.

She breathes twice as quickly as I do, and I find myself enjoying the rise and fall of her chest.

I’m counting her one hundred-twentieth breath when she tilts her head and looks up at me.

She holds my gaze, saying nothing and I do not push her.

I believe she is not going to say anything.

That is, until water fills her eyes. She promptly blinks it away.

“You have a plan, don’t you,” she whispers. “You have a plan to take down the Gryken.”

The worry in her gaze has a scent similar to her fear.

I have the urge to dispel it.

“Yes.”

Adee’ra jerks her head downward a few times then.

“We should go eat and see if we can put that plan of yours into motion.”

Yes.

She is right.

I am sure my brethren are waiting to see where we stand.

And though I do not want to leave my quarters just yet, the faster we get rid of the Gryken scum, the sooner I can get more days like this with Adee’ra.

“Let’s go,” she whispers, her symbiotes creeping over her skin.

She begins to ease off me but I stop her.

“You can rest here. I will bring you sustenance.”

She licks her lips and sits upright. “I know you’re just trying to keep me in here, aren’t you?”

I look at her, dumbfounded.

“You’re going to feed me then leave again to go look at that monster we captured then make plans with your team, aren’t you?”

She is right.

“I want to see it.”

My eyes close as soon as the words leave her lips.

The Gryken is contained in a special tank. It ca

It ca

I remember seeing its grasp on her in that Scrit.

I remember the utter terror I felt for her in that moment.

When my gaze raises to hers though, the ultimate determination in her eyes tells me this is something she needs to do.

“I want to be a part of this.” She reaches forward and runs a finger down my leg.

My sazi throbs immediately but I push it from my mind.

“You put your life at risk and I almost lost you. I disagree.”

A huff of air makes her shoulders rise and fall. “I know…but…I just can’t sit by.” She shakes her head and runs a hand through her hair. “I just can’t.”

For a few moments, she says nothing.

“Let me see it,” she says. “I don’t think I can ever do what I did again, but I’m going to help you fight for us.” Her gaze meets mine. “For our future.”

I get the sense she is also referring to our future—mine and hers together.

I study her for a few moments.

I know I can never deny her wishes.

“I’ll take you to it.”