Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
When we break apart, I look over to Selina to introduce her, but am struck at the look of jealousy on her face. There’s a possessiveness in her eyes that makes me wish I could get her to a room right now so she can show me just how much I am hers.
“My sister—Kaja,” I say, and the gleam in her eye vanishes in an instant, replaced by a sheepish expression now. “Vabila.”
I present Selina to my sister with the same words I used with Halun. But instead of bringing Selina’s hand to her forehead, Vabila cradles Selina’s face with both her hands, putting her forehead to hers, and then she repeats the words Halun said before. Selina recognizes them and smiles.
“But why are you here?” I ask Vabila, switching to our language. I must get Selina a translator as soon as possible.
“The Head Mina, grandmother, she told us to bring an army. That we would be met with hostility when we came to retrieve you.” She looks at Selina then, smiling. “She also told us that you would return with a treasure far greater than anything else this planet bore.”
“I see. How are the Minas, and mother, father?”
“All are well. Awaiting your return. It should not take us nearly as long to get home. We had to find a hole to bring us here, and it took almost a season. But now that we’ve found it, it should take us half that to get home, I think.”
She looks away from me to grab Selina’s hand. “Come. The Mina sent me to welcome you to the females of Hallalah. I will bathe and clothe you.”
Selina looks at me with a confused smile.
“We will get her a translator first,” I tell Vabila, and then say in Selina’s language to her. “We need to find you something.”
We walk deeper into the ship, to the control room and the males inside bow to me.
“Waliz Bothaki.”
I incline my head towards them and then Vabila explains what we need. Selina pulls on my hand that she’s been tightly clutching in obvious nervousness and I look down at her.
“They … listen to her? Obey her?” she inquires.
“On Hallalah, females are revered,” I explain. “To disrespect her would mean a beating, or worse. None would dare.”
Her brows crease in confusion, but she nods, anyway. Vabila brings a translator over to me and I hold it out for Selina to see.
“It will feel uncomfortable in your ear, but just for a moment. Then, it will translate our words into your language. There will come a time when you will no longer need it to speak in my tongue like I will not need it for yours.”
I expect anxiousness, but she releases a relieved breath. “Yes, do it.”
We go into an unoccupied room and I put the translator in. I hate even causing her the small discomfort I can see on her face as it burrows deeper, but she only cringes a little and then looks at me, expectedly. At that, I’m the one who’s nervous. What should I say to her now that she will understand perfectly?
Ah, I know.
“You are more beautiful than every sunset I have ever witnessed on Hallalah.”
Selina sighs almost wistfully. “And your words mean more to me than any sunrise I’ve ever seen.”
“Vabila,” I say.
“Yes?”
“Go away.”
She hums and I don’t have to look to know she’s smirking as she walks away, but I don’t care because Selina is standing before me now, nothing between us and no one watching us. We’re alone, for the first time.
Ever.
With no one to step in or stop us. Nothing to say we’ve gone too far.
I hurry to press my thumb to the square on my chest to retract my suit before bringing my hands to her face, wishing the bandages on my fingers didn’t prevent my fingertips from touching her. She tilts her face up, telling me she wants this as much as I do.
It feels like far too much time passes as I move my head forward, eternity until my mouth is against hers. But then they are and nothing in the entire universe matters except the feel of her lips. Soft, warm, and so perfect against mine, in every possible way. I don’t apply too much pressure, but then her hands are at my waist, pulling me closer, her quiet moan vibrating against my lips. I groan as I press my lips harder to hers, before parting them to lightly lick between her lips. She gasps and breaks our kiss. Her eyes flit back and forth between mine for a moment, and I find an amazement in them that quells the fear that I scared her.
“Again,” she breathes.
I crash my lips to hers now and when my tongue goes to lick the taste of her from her lips again, I find her tongue meeting mine. Desire like I have never known rushes through me so violently that I shiver. She opens for me so our tongues circle as her hands wrap around my lower back. I trail my hands down her sides, cursing this dress for being between us. She presses on my lower back, pushing me closer to her again, but without my suit on, this time, it makes my cock grind into her.