Galen merely crosses his arms and leans against the worktable.
Fine. If he wants to waste his time, what do I care? “Oz?” I venture, furious at the tremulous note in my voice. I’m not afraid of him. He would never hurt me intentionally. Not my fierce, sweet Oz. He’s no villain. “Oz? It’s time to take a break. C’mon, I’ve got food.”
“Can’t take a break,” he says under his breath and grinds a fist into his eyes before blinking furiously. “Can’t. Almost there. I’m almost there.”
“I know, honey, but you’re dead on your feet. Let’s get you some food and we’ll go lie down together. Wouldn’t you like that?”
I don’t want to startle him again, so I make sure I’m in his line of sight this time when I move to his side. Hesitantly, I lift a hand to squeeze his shoulder, like I might a frightened spider. This time, he barely seems to notice me and I lose a breath. “Oz?”
At my voice he spins in my direction, his eyes a little wild and he wavers on his feet. His eyes cross, then roll back in his head as he crumples to the floor.
8
Ozias
Nine Solars Left
I wake to grunting. Loud, familiar, grumpy grunting.
Galen.
I’d know his voice from anywhere.
“Leave me alone,” I murmur, barely able to crack my eyes open.
“Trust me,” Galen growls, “it would be more of a pleasurable task. Unfortunately, the alien has asked a favor of me. I would never disappoint a female, especially one as beautiful—”
I snap my eyes open in time with my sub-bones popping. “Mine.”
Galen grins at me, playfully slapping my cheek. “I knew that would wake you up long enough for you to walk back to your room.”
He helps me to my feet and steadies me when I sway.
“I need to…” I trail off, trying to blink away the heaviness of my eyelids.
“You need to rest, honey.” Quinn’s voice snaps me awake. “Please? For me?”
She asks so sweetly that I cannot deny her. “All right.”
Quinn smiles, relieved. “Good. Let’s carry on then.”
Blindly, with the halls blurring by, I walk behind Quinn, Galen all but holding me up. Once we reach my room, Quinn scurries about, readying things. I yawn, my eyes closing for a long moment.
“Help him into the bed.” Her voice once again has my eyes fluttering.
I fall into the bed with a groan. Quinn drags a blanket over me but then starts to leave. I grip her arm, gently tugging her to me. “Please stay.”
“I will. Just let me grab your dinner. You can eat something and then sleep. I’ll be right beside you,” she promises.
Afraid to lose her, I track her with my eyes. She’s so beautiful with her bouncing curls and glasses that make her eyes so big. Her creamy skin calls for me to mark it up and taste it. My cock hardens in my suit, but I ignore it as I focus on her cute rump. When she catches me checking her out, her cheeks blaze crimson and she laughs.
Galen, however, is not amused. He stands in the doorway also watching my mate.
“Mine,” I growl.
“I don’t need a rekking reminder,” he snaps out testily. “You only say it every seven seconds. How could I forget?”
“Hey,” Quinn coos. “He’s tired. Cut him some slack.” She smiles at Galen. “Thanks for helping getting him here for me. Please let the others know not to disturb us until he’s had a good night’s rest.”
Galen stares me down for a moment longer before dragging his gaze away. He turns and leaves without another word. Quinn loads up a platter with some food and then comes to sit on the edge of the bed.
“Eat,” she instructs in a breathy tone. “Please.”
I flash her a half grin before opening my mouth for the offered sliver of seared sabrevipe. She squeaks when I playfully nip at her finger.
“You’re supposed to eat and then rest,” she chides. “Not flirt.”
I know all about flirting. Molly tells me all the ways of the alien world. Flirting is part of their mating ritual. I’m most definitely flirting with my mate.
“I’d behave if you were naked,” I offer, grinning at her.
She lets out a giggle. “You’re a mess. Eat and we’ll see what I can do about that.”
My smile falls as I realize she’s serious. She wants to get naked with me? My cock aches as it strains against my minnasuit. Heat floods through my entire system as I imagine my mate’s naked body slick with sweat as she slides up and down over my cock.
“You ate that so fast,” she breathes out in shock.
“Mmm?” I ask, fixated on the pretty way her lips move when she speaks.
“The whole plate. Who knew I could offer nakedness to get what I want?”
“If you got naked, I’d do whatever you asked for, Whisper.”