He growled, a low, possessive sound that vibrated through her entire body, and drove into her again and again. The knot at the base of his cock began to swell, stretching her impossibly, a sweet ache that promised even deeper pleasure. His hips jerked a final time and the hot rush of his seed sent her spiraling into another orgasm as his knot locked them together.
Afterward, they lay tangled together, breathing hard.
“Now sleep, my mate,” he said softly.
Mate.The concept still felt surreal. She had loved David in her way, but what she felt for Selik was different. Deeper. More fundamental, as if her body had recognized him on some cellular level and claimed him before her mind caught up.
She drifted toward sleep, lulled by the sound of waves and the steady beat of his heart.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
When Corinne woke the next morning, Selik was gone. But the blankets still held his warmth, and through the window she could see him on the small deck attached to their house, watching the sunrise with Mikoz balanced on his hip.
The infant pointed at the water and chirped excitedly.
“Yes,” Selik said, his deep voice carrying through the open window. “That is the ocean. We will go there later, but first we must let your mother sleep.”
She smiled and burrowed deeper into the blankets. For the first time in months, she felt safe.
The market district was already busy when they ventured out mid-morning. Vendors called out their wares in a dozen languages. Her translation implant recognized most of them, although a few remained incomprehensible.
She bought fresh fruit from a stall run by an alien whose skin shifted through rainbow colors as she explained the properties of each variety. Selik haggled with a blue-skinned fishmonger over the price of something that looked like a cross between alobster and a snake, eventually securing a deal that left both parties satisfied. Anya dragged them to a clothing shop where she insisted on trying on half the inventory before settling on three outfits that actually fit her growing frame.
“You’re going to need new clothes in three months,” she warned as they paid.
“Then we’ll buy new clothes in three months. I refuse to walk around in pants that are three inches too short.”
They acquired other necessities—kitchen supplies, basic toiletries, toys for Mikoz that he immediately tried to eat. By the time they returned to the house, her feet ached and her arms were full of packages.
Selik had disappeared somewhere during their shopping, returning with a datapad full of notes and a satisfied expression.
“I have secured a meeting tomorrow with the harbormaster,” he announced. “He controls the fishing licenses and can recommend equipment suppliers.”
“You’re really doing this,” she said. “The fishing thing.”
“I am.” He pulled up schematics on the datapad. “My grandfather taught me the basics when I was young. I will need to adapt his techniques to Tillich Two’s native species, but the fundamental principles remain the same.”
She studied the diagrams—nets and lines and something that looked like a modified sonar system. “This is going to be expensive.”
“Tarak has arranged to transfer enough funds to purchase a small vessel and basic equipment.” He hesitated. “Though we will need additional income to sustain us long-term. I do notexpect profits for at least several months as I learn the local waters.”
“I’ll find work.” She tried to sound more confident than she felt. “There have to be jobs that don’t require specialized skills or credentials.”
“The harbormaster mentioned that the processing facilities often need workers,” he said reluctantly. “The pay is modest but consistent.”
Processing fish. She’d gone from teaching literature at a university to gutting alien seafood for minimum wage.
“Sounds perfect,” she said, and meant it. Pride was a luxury she couldn’t afford. She still wanted to look into teaching but for right now, a paycheck was more important.
That afternoon, Selik took them down to the water. The tide was out, exposing rocky pools filled with strange creatures. Anya squealed when something with too many legs scuttled past her feet. Mikoz stared at the waves with single-minded fascination, reaching toward the water with both hands.
“He likes it,” she said, holding him back before he could toddle straight into the ocean.
“Cire are natural swimmers.” Selik crouched beside a tide pool, pointing out the various inhabitants to Anya. “We often begin water training at this age.”
“He’s ten months old.”
“Almost eleven months now. Old enough to learn basic floating techniques.” At her skeptical look, he added, “I will not allow him to drown, s’kara. Trust me.”
