Dovis Read online

  “I’m still wet.” She pointed between her legs. “Soaked.”

  “That’s from both of us,” he whispered. “You were highly aroused, and I emptied my seed inside you. I’ll take you to your room and help you clean up.”

  Chapter Nine

  Mari woke alone in her bed. She remembered Dovis carrying her to her cabin and stripping off their clothing, then showering with her. Her legs had been weak for some reason, and she’d had a hard time standing straight without his help. He’d carried her to her bed afterward, tucked her in, and lain down next to her. He’d held her to make sure she was okay until she’d fallen asleep. She was pretty sure he’d stayed the entire night.

  She sat up and checked the time, cursing. Her shift had started an hour ago!

  Fear hit fast over getting in trouble. She was never late.

  Mari made a mad dash to her closet and yanked out an outfit.

  Her cabin door opened and she gasped, spinning to face whoever had come in.

  Dovis entered carrying a tray of food. He was back to fur. It reminded her that last night, he had stayed in skin on the walk from the bridge to her cabin when he’d brought her there. They hadn’t run into anyone but they could have.

  “How are you feeling, Mari?”

  “I’m fine but I overslept. I’m late for work!”

  “You’re not. I told Cathian you’re taking a day off.”

  She gaped at him, stunned.

  “It’s fine, Mari. I told you he’s not going to fire you. Time off is allowed and encouraged.” He walked to the coffee table to put the tray down. “Come eat. How are you feeling?”

  “You already asked me that, and my answer was honest.”

  “I’m just worried. I was rough with you.” His gaze ran down her body as he approached her. “No bruises. Turn around.”

  She hesitated but then did as he asked. Her cheeks felt warm with her standing there totally bare to his gaze. Not even the Teki had wanted to see her that way. She looked over her shoulder at him, watching him inspect her.

  “Good. You had some red marks here from my claws.” His furry knuckle brushed her hip. “They’re gone. Turn back around.”

  She did.

  He moved her long hair, inspecting where he’d bitten her. “All healed and no scar.” He backed up a foot. “I ordered a replacement for the pants I ruined. The Pods should deliver them outside your cabin soon. Eat. Take today off…then avoid me from now on, Mari. It’s for the best. I’ll deal with Raff to make sure he doesn’t set us up to be alone again. Trust the computer to let you know when there’s a repair to be made, not him.”

  Then he turned away, walking toward the door.

  Hurt filled her. “That’s it? We’re going to pretend it didn’t happen again?”

  He halted but kept his back to her. “I could have hurt you, Mari. Hell, I probably did but you were too drugged on whatever my bite does to feel anything but pleasure. I’m just grateful you have no lasting injuries.”

  “You risked running into the crew when you carried me back to my cabin. You stayed in skin.”

  He remained quiet.

  “Is the idea of being with me that bad? Is it because I was a slave? Because I’m human? What?”

  He slowly turned, his eyes black and intense. “Ones like me don’t take mates. We’re not even supposed to survive into adulthood. Nothing about this is fair to you, Mari. I feel as if I’m forcing you to be with me. I kept my teeth locked inside your shoulder while I fucked you, knowing it would make you surrender to my lust. And you did. I’m an asshole.”

  She replayed his words, trying to make sense of them. “I’m not complaining.”

  “You should be! Be angry, Mari. You deserve to feel that emotion.”

  She walked to him. He backed up but didn’t have far to go before he hit a wall.

  She jabbed her finger on his chest. “Don’t tell me what to feel or think, Dovis!”

  His eyes widened in surprise.

  “You’re confusing me with this hot-and-cold routine you’re doing. Like acting as if you regret what happened on the bridge last night, but then bringing me breakfast. Do you want me or not?”

  He took a long time to answer. “I do want you, Mari. I’m just not certain if you really want me or if it’s because I’ve bitten you. What if it wears out of your system completely and you end up hating me? Regretting every time I’ve touched you?”

  She thought about that. “You left me alone for two weeks, and do you want to know what happened?”

  “What?”

  “I missed you. I thought about you the entire time. I kept hoping I’d run into you while I was working on repairs around The Vorge. Then I felt disappointed when I didn’t. It wasn’t because I got too close to you and your scent made me hot. And it wasn’t because your DNA was still inside me. The captain had me tested a week ago, and there were no traces found. I felt that way on my own.”

  He appeared startled by her confession.

  “I don’t know anything about relationships or men, males…whatever. You’re my first. I do know that even without you close to make my body go crazy over your scent, I wished you were. Close, that is. I understand that when you bit me, your DNA got inside me…but it’s a part of you. Who you are. What you are.”

  “What are you saying?”

  She thought she’d been clear, and her frustration rose. “Stop apologizing and avoiding me! I want this, whatever it is. I’m fine with the effect your bite has on me. More than. It feels wonderful and incredible when we’re together.”

  He looked even more shocked, his mouth gaping open.

  “I don’t remember Earth. My youngest memories were living on a large transport vessel with my parents and bunch of other aliens. Then I was sold to the Teki. All kinds of aliens came to have their ships repaired. Different is my normal, Dovis. Do you understand? You warned me what to expect, told me why I felt the way I did, and I accepted that. I still do. I’d like to get to know you and spend time with you. Even if we never feel anything deeper, and just end up having sex some more. That’s not a bad thing. It’s wonderful when you touch me.”

  “You don’t mean that.”

  “I do. Right now, I’m aching for you. I know it’s because we’re this close and I can smell you. It’s a physical reaction to whatever your bite does…but watch this.” She spun away, stormed across the room to the farthest part of her cabin, and faced him. Long minutes passed. “I can’t smell you from over here. Guess what? I still want you to stay. Would it be so bad if you stopped putting space between us and we just let this be whatever it is?”

  “I could mate you by accident if I keep biting you. Mari. I’m not like other Amarai. I’m not sure what will happen. You’d be stuck with me for the rest of your life.”

  “Is that supposed to frighten me? It doesn’t.”

  “It should!”

  “Would you hate the idea of becoming my mate?”

  “No. And that’s why you should want me far away from you.”

  She shook her head. “It doesn’t scare me, and I’m not asking you to leave. Look at what you did last night.”

  “I attacked you on the bridge.”

  “We had incredible sex, and then you carried me to my cabin, gently washed me, and took care of me while I recovered. This morning, you gave me the day off and even brought me breakfast. That’s amazing. No one has ever been this good to me.”

  “You have no expectations.”

  “I know what I like, Dovis. That’s you.”

  He pushed off from the wall. “Damn it, Mari! Don’t tempt me. You should put some clothes on.”

  “Why? I’d like it better if you took off yours.”

  Long minutes passed…before he sighed, slowly reaching for his shirt. “I can’t resist you. Please don’t regret this.”

  “I won’t.”

  He tore off his shirt, revealing lots of skin and muscles. “Eat first. I insist.”

  “Will you share it with me?”