Page 28 of His to Worship
Sure, I’m stranded on a frozen tundra of a planet and everything has gone to shit as far as my life is concerned, but being around Kuvier makes it easier to push aside the fear and uncertainty. After being forced into a pseudo-leadership position with the other girls and having to think my way out of a massive life or death situation, it’s nice to have someone to protect me. Now that I think about it, my whole life I was always expected to save myself and everyone else too.
My mom was never around when I was young, too busy worrying about this man or that who promised her the world and delivered on none of it. Since a young age, I’ve had to do all the ‘fending’ by myself. The only time she would appear was when she needed me. Either me saving her from some man she slept with or bailing her out financially as I started getting older before I went no-contact. But, nobody has ever been that safety net for me. There’s never been a chance for me to breathe and trust someone else to take care of it. Next to Kuvier though, my brain can relax, my body can calm, and I don’t feel like I’m fighting just to stay afloat.
There’s something incredibly comforting about his presence. The only time I don’t feel isolated and lost is when he’s with me. Even with Renata around, or before when all of us were facing threats together, I felt alone somehow. With him next to me, I feel like I don’t have to face everything head on, like there’s somebody standing between me and the big bad universe.
I do it without thinking.
Leaning down, I brush my lips gently over his. It’s just a peck, barely even that, but when I pull back, my breath sticks in my chest as his golden eyes open and fixate on me. There’s not an ounce of exhaustion behind that intoxicating gaze now. My mouth opens to say something, but when nothing comes out, I close it back.
Kuvier peers at me, as if considering, before an arm comes up slowly, cupping my head. He pulls me down until our lips are a breath away, and then pauses, giving me the chance to stop this. I don’t.
I can’t.
Instead, I move the last hair until my lips press against his, and the moment they make contact, everything else seems to disappear around us.
When our mouths connect, Kuvier seems content to leave them pressed gently together. His lips are more of a downy suede than skin-like texture, but still plush and soft. It takes a second of no movement before it occurs to me that maybe kissing isn’t a thing where he’s from. I hesitate for only a moment before I take over the kiss. My mouth begins to move slowly, and at first Kuvier jerks back in surprise, but then he’s following my lead.
I lose myself in the moment, becoming bolder and running my tongue over his bottom lip. He lets out a breath and I take the opening, stroking my tongue in his mouth. He groans and grips my braid to pull me closer as our tongues caress each other.
He has to catch the rhythm, but the moment he does, he takes over. His hand slides down until it’s pressed to my neck. The hold isn’t threatening, but definitely possessive, and it sends a thrill straight through me. My fingers thread in the fur on his chest as we move in sync, tasting and teasing at each other. The feeling is indescribable. I’ve kissed my share of men, and some were even what I’d consider a good kisser, but nothing touches this. Not even close.
When I finally pull away to catch my breath, my lips feel swollen and Kuvier looks at me with so much tenderness it makes my heart hurt as he rubs a gentle, clawed thumb over my bottom lip.
“Ti khesi.” I know the word ‘ti’ means possession, like my, or mine. But the second word is one I’d been meaning to ask about.
“What is ‘khesi’?” I ask the question softly, feeling somehow shy in the face of the kiss we just shared.
Kuvier closes his eyes, thoughtfully, presumably thinking about a way to explain the word. When he opens them, he presses his large hand over his heart.
“Khesi.” He gestures from his heart to me a few times and I realize that it must be like ‘love’ or something, an adoration for someone who holds your heart, maybe. It’s a big declaration, indicating that I, a woman he’s known for only a few days, holds his heart. So why does it fill me with so much warmth?
My fingers stroke at that favorite spot on his forehead as I ponder this. But, my thoughts are cut short when I hear a loud chime go off behind me. My head whips around, and Kuvier sits up just as fast.
A pod light flashes yellow. My eyes widen when, like a row of falling dominoes, the other pods flicker yellow, sounding a warning.
And then, as if seeking to make my life hell, two of them blink twice before glaring red.
“Shit.”
SEVENTEEN
- sedona -
“What the fuck?” A voice screams before their concerns are being echoed by another.
“Where am I? What the hell? Help!”
The other girls waking up is proving to be a challenge to say the least.
“Wait! It’s okay. I know this is strange, but please don’t worry, you’re safe. I promise.”
My hands are up in almost surrender as I look at the two women who have awoken first. They’re both huddled in their own pod, pressed firmly against the metal back as their eyes flick between me, Kuvier, and their surroundings with varying degrees of curiosity, fear, and confusion. I opened their pods when they flashed red, and it took a second for them both to wake up fully, but clearly they’re awake enough now.
“Who the hell are you? Where am I?” The voice comes from the mouth of a pretty Asian woman with honey-blonde hair as she glares at me with distrust. “Do you know who I am? Do you know how much trouble you’re going to be in?”
“I didn’t do this.” I put my hands on my hips and give them a serious look. “I know you’re both scared, but the first thing you need to know is that I’m a victim in all of this just like you.”
“And this is what exactly?” An incredulous voice questions from the other open pod. It’s a South Asian woman, her big brown eyes wide as flying saucers. Pun intended.