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She didn’t realize she was crying until he brushed her tears away with his thumbs. Her heart lurched. She had never fathomed it was possible to fall in love with someone so quickly. But she could honestly say she cared for Errik that deeply.
She wasn’t brave enough to say the words though.
Not tonight.
Not this soon in their mating union.
And there was a part of her that wanted to hear him say it first.
The huge alien warrior suddenly slipped one arm beneath her knees and the other around her back. He lifted her effortlessly and carried her toward the large bed. As she realized his intentions, heat pulsed between her thighs.
He was going to claim her in their bedroom on New Vaxx for the very first time. Somehow, that felt meaningful. Especially after the confessions they’d just shared.
For the first time in either of their lives, neither of them wanted to run.
She leaned against Errik’s chest, listening to the rapid beating of his heart, musing that she was right where she wanted to be… in the arms of her mate. For once, she wasn’t dreaming of the places she might visit or the adventures that awaited her somewhere beyond the horizon. She was dreaming of all the beautiful memories they would make as they built their new life together, right here, in a place they could both finally call home.
Chapter 12
Errik stood outside the brightly illuminated restaurant, waiting for Holly to emerge. Eight days had passed since he’d brought her to New Vaxx, and she’d already begun making friends. Some of his neighbors’ mates had invited her to an impromptu gathering this evening, and he found himself hoping she was enjoying herself.
As the night grew darker, he waited patiently for his darling mate to emerge. He’d promised to escort her home, but he’d told her to take her time. As he waited, he was careful to stand in the shadows. He didn’t want her glancing out a window, spotting him, and feeling obliged to cut her evening short.
Happiness filled him when he heard the laughter of females coming from the restaurant, mingling with the buzzing and chirping of nighttime insects. The sound brought a smile to his face as he imagined Holly laughing with her new friends, her eyes sparkling and her cheeks flushed with pleasure.
She’d been happy lately. Truly happy.
And so had he.
In the eight days since their arrival on New Vaxx, they’d fallen into a comfortable routine. Every morning, they ate breakfast together on the back patio, watching the rising sun splinter through the trees while the forest awakened around them. Holly often talked about what she wanted to accomplish that day, her enthusiasm infectious as she sipped coffee and sampled whatever food he’d prepared using the replicator.
He’d never imagined he would enjoy such simple pleasures. Before Holly, he’d spent his days training as a warrior, then fighting in the war, then fighting in the cages. Always restless. Always searching for something he couldn’t quite name.
But now, he couldn’t imagine beginning his day without the sweet human sitting across from him, her beautiful face illuminated by the morning sunlight.
After breakfast, she usually walked with him to the training arena, kissed him goodbye, and then set off to explore the streets closest to their home, eager to discover more of Starzzia and meet its inhabitants. She took her camera everywhere, documenting the sights, the people she encountered, and the many things she found fascinating about her new surroundings. She’d even begun resurrecting something she called a travel blog, along with her social media profiles, in hopes of sharing her unique experiences with others.
Last night over dinner, she’d practically bounced in her seat as she told him about the growing number of followers she’d attracted. Most were females from Earth, she’d explained, who were curious about what life was like on New Vaxx.
“I think I could make a real go of this,” she’d told him, her eyes shining. “I could document my experiences living in Starzzia and exploring New Vaxx, and in the process, introduce people to the culture here. Maybe even show them what everyday life is like for a human woman living among Vaxxlian warriors.”
He’d listened to her every word, captivated by her excitement, as she’d explained how she might turn her blog and social media profiles into something more substantial. For now, she wanted to see where it led before looking for a job elsewhere. She hoped it would give her a sense of purpose while connecting with other people, both on Earth and in her new home.
He wholeheartedly approved.
He loved seeing her so animated, loved seeing the way her entire face lit up when she talked about something that mattered to her. And if she wanted to spend her days exploring Starzzia with a camera in hand, he would do everything in his power to support her.
She’d already featured him in a few of her videos. The first time she’d pointed the camera at him, he’d been uncertain what to do, how to act, especially when she’d told him to smile and wave. He’d obliged, or at least he’d tried to, only to have her fall into a fit of giggles over the way he’d stared suspiciously at the camera before giving a stiff smile and brief wave.
Apparently, he wasn’t very good at smiling or waving on command.
He’d gotten better since then, though. Or so Holly claimed.
The thought made him grin. He loved their playful interactions when she included him in her work. Yesterday, he’d allowed her to record him while he demonstrated how to use a food replicator to make breakfast cake and tea. According to her, the video had gone viral, whatever that meant.
And every afternoon, when he returned home from warrior training, Holly was waiting for him. No matter what she’d been doing that day, she always seemed to sense his arrival, appearing in the entryway with a welcoming smile and a kiss that never failed to brighten his spirits. Sometimes, she asked about his training. Other times, she launched into a breathless account of her latest discoveries, eager to tell him about an interesting female she’d met or a new shop she’d found.
He loved listening to her talk about her experiences, and he loved that she was already starting to feel at home in Starzzia. If she was homesick for Earth, she wasn’t letting it show.
