“I could turn the question right back at you,” I replied. “However, since Victoria is the doctor for all human females, a different reason brought you here. Am I to assume you were coming to ask Rogue if you and I are compatible?”
I kicked myself the minutes the words came out of my mouth. Being a bit of an ass had always been an automatic defense mechanism for me. But in this instance, I had not meant to handle this specific topic like such a jerk.
“You really need to work on your bedside manner,” Linette muttered while giving me a stern stare. “And as a matter of fact, yes, that was precisely the reason for my visit to Rogue.”
My jaw dropped, and I gaped at her, utterly speechless.
“So? Are we?” the petite woman insisted, snapping me out of my frozen stupor.
“Yes, yes we are,” I finally answered, finding my voice again. “But I already knew that. Compatibility was never the issue.”
“Then there is an issue,” she said.
The way her shoulders slightly slumped erased any doubt I still harbored that she might indeed be into me. My heart wanted to soar with joy, but I silenced it. Too much still had to be ironed out before I could allow myself to cry victory. Taking a deep inspiration, I decided to lay down my cards.
“Linette, I am extremely drawn to you. Correction, I have been obsessed with you since the day we met almost three years ago,” I said with a slightly shaky voice, having never felt more vulnerable than in this instant.
Even as the word spilled out of my mouth, I realized I couldn’t have picked a worse location, with the children still running and screaming in the back. But I was committed, and nothing would make me back down at this point. It was Linette’s turn to gape at me, her beautiful dark blue eyes all but popping out of her head from shock. She wrapped her arms around her midsection and listened. The lack of disgust or horror on her delicate features encouraged me to pursue.
“I want you to be my mate, and to share the rest of my life with you,” I said, trying to force myself to speak at a slower, more natural speed instead of blurting everything out in a panic. “I know you haven’t really thought of me in those terms until recently, and maybe you don’t even now. If I misinterpreted your interest in me, then please accept my apologies, and know that I will not annoy you further with my unrequited attention. But if I’m not wrong, then there are things we should discuss in a more private setting,” I added with a nervous chuckle while casting a meaningful glance around us.
An extremely soft expression descended Linette’s elven face. Chewing her bottom lip, she timidly extended a hand towards me. I swallowed hard again and took her hand. It was small, delicate, almost fragile in mine.
“I’m pretty obsessed with you, too,” Linette said, a lovely blush creeping on her cheeks. “Let’s go to your place and speak privately.”
I nodded, my throat too constricted to speak and my heart filling to bursting. Countless pairs of eyes followed us as we walked hand in hand to the bike stand where we had both left our hoverbikes. With much reluctance, I let go of her hand to mount my vehicle. The ten-minute ride at high speed was no doubt the longest one of my life. A million thoughts raced through my head. But fear wouldn’t let go of its grip. Nothing was won, yet. Until we knew more, any chance of a future with my woman would remain uncertain.
Our arrival in Skogoth also didn’t go unnoticed. Linette boldly took my hand again as we headed towards my house. While respectful and discreet, the heavy stares of my brothers and of our few women burned holes in my back. Despite my impatience to get inside, I forced myself to maintain a normal pace as we began to climb the first flight of stairs cleverly hidden by an optical illusion in the mountain face.
My dwelling was located at the very top of our hive, on the left edge of the cliff. While I usually climbed the endless flights of stairs, this time I made a beeline for the hover lift located on the first terrace leading to the lowest floor dwellings. The platform was large enough to accommodate four adult Scelks. Linette stepped on it, standing at an intoxicatingly close proximity to me while the platform flew up. My thumb gently caressed the back of hers, and she tightened her hold around my hand.
When the lift came to a stop, I once more repressed the urge to drag her into my lair and gave my woman a moment to admire the breathtaking view from this height. A railing had recently been added for the safety of the children who had grown increasingly bold in their exploration and excessively efficient at escaping the watchful eye of their parents.
“This is breathtaking,” Linette said, gazing at the wide expanse before us.
From this vantage point, we could see the Vanguard HQ in the distance, part of the Dragon City, and the silhouette of the Mimic village on the other side of the Mistral River which separated our respective territories.
“Come,” I whispered, gently tugging at her hand.
She came willingly as I walked the short distance to my door. Mine was the only dwelling at this level on this side of the mountain face. Reklig had claimed the one at a similar level on the opposite side. There was no direct way from his place to mine unless you got bold and reckless enough to do some wall climbing—which we had both naturally done on a couple of occasions on a dare.
Although my house had a lock—as did every other residence in Skogoth—none of us ever activated them. I opened the door to let my woman in first before following her in. No sooner did I close the door behind us than I pushed her against the wall. Linette’s yelp of surprise was quickly silenced by my lips pressing against hers. I hadn’t planned on doing this, but something primal had taken over me the minute we were alone. Thankfully, my beautiful female didn’t seem to mind—quite the opposite.
Linette’s arms immediately wrapped around my neck, her right hand resting at the back of my scales-covered head. My hands found their way behind her thighs, lifting her up. With my height of 6’2, and hers of 5’2, it was more comfortable than having her on her tiptoes and me breaking my neck bending down. There was also something incredibly empowering to have my female helplessly pressed against the wall, trapped by my body, and yielding to my sensual demands.
The short skirt of her Vanguard uniform dress riding up bared the flawless and milky skin of her thighs. The thumb of my hand holding her up gently caressed it. Everything about her was so incredibly soft and silky, from the fragrant locks of her long black hair, to the delicate texture of her skin so unlike mine. And her warm skin, rendered feverish by her growing arousal, was making me drunk with desire.
Linette’s lips parted, her tongue demanding entry. It was strange to have her be so bold and behave in an almost dominant manner with me, who was many things but definitely not submissive. Still, I let her take the lead—for now—as my experience was essentially nil but from images unconsciously projected by humans and the other residents of Khepri.
She tasted deliciously sweet, like an apple bun dipped in honey. Her soft moan sent a pleasant shiver down my spine and an inferno awakened in my nether region. Her hand, impatient and determined, released my nape to slip under my shirt. I gasped against her lips, my shaft jerking in my suddenly too tight trousers at the exquisite feel of her burning palms against my back. This time, it was no innocent touch of discovery to sate her curiosity, but the possessive and passionate touch of a lover.