“You should come back with us, Rose. The two of you are safer with us than on your own.” Teagan said. “I know this cave feels safe, but it isn’t. Not even with the flowers in front of the entrance. You need numbers to survive.”
“They’re safest behind the wall with the locals. Why did you leave with us this morning? They urged you to stay.” Duncan traced the back of the couch.
“I’m not staying there without the rest of you,” Rose said. “How do you think I’d feel knowing that I was safe behind that stupid wall while the rest of you aren’t?”
“So instead you’re going to go off and play house with a blue alien in a giant cave?” Teagan said.
“To be fair,” Wallace was sitting at the island and leafing through a magazine from the bookshelf, “this place is nicer than what we’ve got. They got an actual bed.”
“Fuck the bed. You can’t survive on your own. I don’t care if you have a cave with flowers in front of it and all the fucking goddamn comforts of home,” Teagan said. “Sooner or later, the pinkies or something else on this godforsaken island will kill you.”
“I won’t leave Vida and he won’t stay at your camp.”
Teagan made a grunt of frustration and Vida said, “Your leader is mad. It is not safe to stay with him.”
“We can handle Patrick,” Teagan said. “Look, what Gormet said is true. We can’t get the goddamn flowers to grow, and we need to figure out a way to convince him to let us stay behind the wall. It’ll be impossible without you and Vida.”
Rose glanced up at Vida. “When you try and convince him, let us know. Keep Patrick away from us and we’ll go with you. But we’re not going back to the camp. You know as well as I do that if Vida goes anywhere near Patrick, he’ll try and force him to help him take over the locals’ home. Vida won’t do that and who knows what Patrick will do to him. He is crazy, Teagan. He has some kind of mental illness and -”
“He’s not crazy!” Teagan shouted.
Vida pulled Rose behind him. “It is time for you to leave.”
Teagan rubbed at his forehead. “And if I don’t? Are you going to make me?”
“Teag.” Wallace shook his head and Teagan muttered a curse.
“I’ll fucking wait for you outside.”
He left the cave and Wallace sighed. “Teag’s a good man.”
“I know he is,” Rose said.
“It’s just… you know how Brian saved my life in Mosul? Well, Patrick saved Teagan’s. It was bad, he almost died trying to save Teag. Teagan thinks he owes him now and they’re friends. At least they used to be before Garrett died and Patrick really went fucking nutso. Teagan doesn’t want to think the worst about Patrick because he owes him his life.”
“His loyalty to Patrick is going to get him killed,” Rose said.
“Patrick might be crazy, but he won’t hurt one of his own. We take care of each other, Rose,” Wallace said.
Rose didn’t reply, and Wallace shut the magazine before sliding off the stool. “I guess this is goodbye. See you crazy kids around the island.”
“Be careful, Wallace. You too, Duncan.”
“We always are, ain’t that right, Duncan?”
Duncan nodded, and Wallace rubbed at his forehead. “If you change your mind, you know where to find us.”
“Okay. Don’t tell Patrick about this place, all right?”
“We won’t.”
“Will Teagan?”
Wallace shook his head. “No. He doesn’t want to admit it, but he knows what you’re saying about Vida is right.”
He and Duncan left the cave and Rose made a shuddering sigh before leaning against Vida. He squeezed her hip. “Are you all right?”
She nodded. “Yeah, I think so. Just worried about the others.”
“Your former mate?”
She wondered if that was jealousy in his voice. “No. I don’t care about Solomon. He and Marissa can have each other. I’m worried about Brody and Randy and the SEALs. They won’t survive much longer if we don’t figure out a way to convince the locals to let them behind the wall.”
She smiled up at him. “At least I have you. I don’t know what I’d do without you on this island, Vida.” A look that she didn’t understand crossed his face. “What? What did I say?”
“Nothing. Come, small flower, we will have a bath and then something to eat.”
She followed him to the bathing chamber and they both stripped off their clothes and eased into the hot water. Vida washed away the paste from her shoulder. “The wounds look good.”
“Not infected?”
He shook his head and she picked up a chunk of soap and scrubbed her hair and body clean as Vida did the same. She smiled at him when they were finished and leaned against the side of the pool, shifting a little when the dull point of a rock pressed against a puncture wound.
“This is nice.” She let her legs drift out in front of her as Vida moved to sit beside her. “Don’t you think?”
“Yes.” He was acting quiet and strange and she touched his arm. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” He leaned down and pressed a kiss against her mouth. She returned his kiss, parting her lips and sucking on his tongue when he pushed it into her mouth. After a moment, she pulled away and smiled at him. “We don’t have to kiss, Vida. I know it’s not your thing.”
“I want to kiss you,” he said. “It is extremely pleasant for me.”
“Are you sure?”
He nodded and kissed her again, one big hand cupping her breast as he explored her mouth with long, slow strokes of his tongue. She squeezed her legs together and ran her hands over his broad chest and shoulders before trying to straddle him.
“Wait,” he said.
She blushed. “I’m sorry.”
“Do not be. I just wish to taste my flower’s pussy before I fuck it.”
She licked her lips. “I am all for that. C’mon.”
She started to climb out of the pool and he pulled her back in. “Where are you going?”
“To the bed?” She gave him a confused look.
He grinned at her. “There is no need.” He submerged himself in the water and Rose’s eyes widened when she felt his tongue trace along her flat stomach and lick around her belly button.
“Oh God.” She spread her legs wide as Vida pushed his large body between them. He slid his hands under her ass, holding her tight as he lifted her. It was too dark in the cave for her to see him under the water, and she cried out when his mouth pressed against her pussy. His tongue licked her clit and she reached under water and clutched his head, rubbing her pussy against his mouth as he licked and sucked. He took his time, his strong hands kneading her ass as he licked her from her opening to her clit. He straightened his tongue and pushed it inside of her before licking his way to her clit again. He sucked on it and when his fangs scraped across the sensitive bundle of nerves, her cries grew more frantic and she stiffened all over before coming with a soft shriek. The sound echoed in the chamber and she rocked back and forth against Vida’s face before collapsing against the rock.
He rose out of the water, water dripping down his chiseled body. His cock was huge, and a shiver of lust went through her despite her recent orgasm. He bent and picked her up before stepping out of the pool and walking back to the main chamber.
“Oh my God,” she said. “There are definite benefits to you being able to breathe under water.”
He laughed, and she nuzzled his neck affectionately. Their bodies steamed in the cool air of the cave and he dried them both with a towel before pulling back the covers on the bed. She climbed in and spread her legs, smiling up at him as he pushed his large body between her thighs.
“Would you prefer to be on top, little flower?”
“No.”
“Are you certain? You can be in control and -”
“No,” she repeated. “I want you on top, Vida. I’m not worried.”
“I will not hurt you.”
“I know.”
He kissed her again, long slow ones that made her feel almost drugged with desire. When she was with Vida, it was so easy to forget that she was on a new world and that every day there was the real possibility of dying. He made her feel safe, made her believe that everything would be all right as long as they were together.
Vida bent his head and trailed a path of kisses along her upper chest before kissing the tip of her right nipple. “You are beautiful, flower.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
He kissed around her nipple and she moaned when he nipped at the fullness of her breast with his fangs. He tasted her soft skin before finally sucking on her nipple. She buried her hands in his hair and arched her back. He switched from nipple to nipple, licking and sucking until her pussy was aching and it was like she’d never had an orgasm.
She rubbed her pussy against his hard thigh and made a pleading moan. He licked her nipple and smiled up at her. “Does my small flower wish to be fucked again?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
He reached down and rubbed her thigh before cupping it and spreading her legs wide. She braced her feet on the bed as he propped himself above her and guided his cock to her warmth. He paused and gave her a grave look
“I will not hurt you. If you need me to stop, just say so.”
“I know.” There was frustration in her voice. “We’ve had sex before, Vida, it’s fine.”
He leaned down and gave her a surprisingly sweet kiss before pushing the head of his cock into her. He took his time, pushing and retreating while he watched her face. She smiled encouragingly at him and raised her hips to meet each of his gentle thrusts until he was fully sheathed.
She touched his face and he turned his head and kissed the palm of her hand. “All right?”
“Yes, it feels good.”
“You feel good, flower,” he groaned. “Your little pussy is so tight around my cock.”
He dipped his head and kissed her again. For a race who didn’t enjoy kissing, he sure kissed her a lot. That pleased her more than it probably should have.
He continued to stare at her as he pushed in and out in a slow and steady rhythm. She had a feeling he was holding back, going slower and being gentler than he normally would. But when she tried to urge him to move faster with soft moans and thrusts of her hips, he ignored her. He kept himself propped up with one hand above her and reached down to cup her ass. He lifted her, shifted her slightly and made a slow thrust that brought on an unexpected flash of pleasure.
She gasped, her nails digging into his biceps as he smiled at her. “Did you like that?”
“Yeah,” she moaned. “Do it again.”
He gripped her ass and thrust and retreated, each stroke driving her need for him higher. Tension and pleasure coiled in her belly and she met each of his thrusts with a hard pump of her hips. She wanted – no, needed – more.
“Please, Vida,” she moaned. “I need…”
“What do you need?”
“I don’t know,” she cried out. “Please!”
He moved a bit faster, sliding in nice and deep and making her moan with relief. “Good, that’s so good.”
She clung to him, burying her face into his broad chest as he pushed her closer and closer to her climax. When he dipped his head and nipped her throat with his sharp fangs, she cried his name and her slender body stiffened beneath his large one. He lifted his head and watched her intently, thrusting in a steady rhythm in and out of her soft body, as she climaxed around his cock.
He found his own release as the last of her climax pulsed through her. He threw his head back, the cords in his neck standing out as he thrust deep and stayed there. Wetness flooded her pussy. She kissed his chest and squeezed her legs around his hips as he pumped back and forth before pulling out of her and collapsing on his back next to her.
She turned and flung her leg over one muscular thigh. He put his arm around her and stroked her hair as she rested her head on his chest. “That was really good.”
“Yes,” Vida replied. “I enjoy having sex with you. It is surprising to me that your pussy can take all of my cock, but it is a very pleasant surprise.”
She stifled her giggle. She was still getting used to Vida’s blunt way of talking. “I enjoyed it too, Vida.”
They lay silently for a while before she sat up. “I’m going to get a drink of water. Would you like one?”
He nodded. She climbed out of bed and crossed naked to the kitchen area. She knew Vida was watching her, but she didn’t feel self-conscious. Of course, she wasn’t sure if that was because the candlelight made everything look better, or because he made her feel beautiful. Maybe it was a little of both.
She returned to the bed with the water and handed him his glass before sliding in beside him. They propped their backs against the headboard and drank their water.
“Are you hungry? It’s probably getting close to lunch.”
He shook his head. He seemed off to her again, a little moody and closed-off, and she chewed her bottom lip. She hadn’t even asked Vida if he wanted to stay with the locals. Maybe he was pissed that she just assumed he’d want to return to the cave.
“Hey, Vida?”
“Yes?”
“Did you want to stay with the locals? I just realized it was rude of me to assume that you would be fine coming back here to the cave.”
“I do not wish to stay with them.” He set his empty glass on the nightstand next to the bed.
“Okay.” She slid a little closer, secretly thrilled when he put his arm around her. “I’m glad. I know there is safety in numbers on this world, but I feel safest when I’m with you.”
Another strange look crossed Vida’s face and she rubbed his flat stomach. “What’s wrong?”
“I am not staying on this world, small flower.”
She sat up and drew the sheet up around her naked body. “What do you mean?”
“When there is another orb that takes, I will leave this world in search of my own.” Vida studied his hands in the flickering candlelight.
Dismay flooded through her body and she grabbed his hand, squeezing it tightly. “Vida, the odds of it taking you back to your world are astronomically small. Do you understand? There are many worlds and -”
“I know, but I must try.”
“But,” she squeezed his hand again until he looked at her, “what if you’re taken to another world that was like mine? One where they capture you and study you like a bug under a glass. Or what if you land on a desert world? You’ll die, Vida.”
He didn’t reply and feeling an odd sort of panic, she said, “This world is similar to yours, right? You have all the water you need to survive, and people don’t care that you’re blue or can breathe under water. If you land on another world, they may kill you just for looking different from them. Why risk death to find your own world when the chances of finding it are almost zero percent?”
“I wish to see my world again, flower. To walk the shoreline along my home, to swim in our vast oceans, and to see the sun rise over the Bluff of Vencona.”
She swallowed down her rising panic. “Do you have family who are still alive?”
He shook his head. “Both my parents would be dead by now, and I had no siblings. But I had friends and even after all of these years, my desire to return home has not dimmed.”
“I understand,” she said in a low voice, “believe me I do. I haven’t been through what you’ve been, but I understand being homesick. But, you won’t find your world again, Vida.”
“You do not know that for certain, little human.”
She sighed. “No, I suppose I don’t. But the thought of you leaving, of you being alone on a new world where they might-might hurt you or kill you…”
“You could come with me.”
Her mouth dropped, and she stared up at him. “What?”
“You could leave this place with me. You would like my world, I promise.”
“We won’t make it to your world, Vida.”
“We might.”
She tamped down her frustration at his stubbornness. She was feeling sick to her stomach over the thought of Vida leaving her and the panic in her stomach was steadily chewing its way up her esophagus. “We’re safe here.”
He gave her a wry look and she sighed. “I know that sounds ridiculous considering I’ve almost died a few times, but we know the dangers of this world now and how to avoid them. The idea of hopping from world to world, of never knowing what kind of danger we could be in – it doesn’t appeal to me, Vida. I’m not adventurous or a risk taker, and I know in my heart that trying to find your world again is a fool’s mission.”
“You will not go with me then?”
“I’m sorry. I can’t, and I wish you wouldn’t go either. Please, Vida, I want you to stay here where I know you’re safe.”
“I cannot, flower.”
Stupidly, she could feel tears threatening and she blinked them back rapidly as Vida studied her. It was dumb to cry over Vida leaving. Having sex a couple of times didn’t mean they were in a relationship, and just because she was already unnaturally attached to the big blue guy, didn’t mean he felt the same about her. Really, she was kind of an idiot for even thinking he felt something more for her than lust.
No, you’re not. He acts like you’re his mate. You know he does.
She studied the quilt on the bed as Vida continued to study her. He did, but maybe that was just what his kind did when they were sleeping together. She really didn’t know that much about him, if she was being honest.
“Rose?” Vida put one finger under her chin and tipped her head up before studying her face. “I am sorry, but I cannot stay. Not even for my sweet flower.”
Now the stupid tears did come, and she wiped them away quickly before smiling at him. “Yeah, I know. I’m sorry, I don’t mean to make you feel bad.”
“Will you take some time and think about coming with me?”
She smiled a little. “I was just going to ask you to think about staying with me. I guess we’re at an impasse, huh?”
“When I leave, promise me you will stay with the locals behind their wall of flowers instead of with your friend and the others. You will be safest there.”
She didn’t want to stay with the locals, she didn’t want to stay with Brody and the SEALs. She wanted to be with Vida. But, that wasn’t what he wanted, and she wouldn’t force him to stay. Not after he spent twenty-five years being held prisoner on a strange world.
His hand cupped her chin. “Promise me.”
“If I can convince them to let Brody and the others stay there too, I’ll stay with them,” she said.
He scowled at her but before he could argue, she said, “I won’t live safe behind that wall, while the others fight for survival. Don’t ask me to do that.”
“You will not survive without me here to protect you,” he said. “You are too little and weak.”
She shrugged. “I’ll get you to teach me some survival skills. Hopefully another orb won’t come before I know how to protect myself.”
Secretly, she hoped an orb would never come, and then berated herself for her selfishness. Vida wanted to go home and as much as she hated the idea, she wouldn’t try and stop him or change his mind. She wasn’t his girlfriend or his mate, and she had no right to ask him to give up his world for her.
“Human, you need to stay with the locals. You can’t -”
“Stop, Vida. You’ve made your choice and I’ve made mine. I’ll be fine. I’m tougher than I look.” She flexed her biceps and wiggled her eyebrows at him, but he didn’t smile. “Will you teach me some survival skills?”
He nodded but there was still a troubled look on his face. “Yes, little flower, I will.”