Page 19 of Bought and Shared

My conversation with Oren this morning came to mind then. Perhaps having a native Voltanese tutor could be useful in more ways than one. He knew the culture after all and would understand the meaning behind a simple word like “mate”.

“I just wish to understand your culture better,” I explain, buttering the man up some. Though not too much, or he might catch on to my ruse.

Happy to get away from the previous line of questioning, Colton jumps at the chance to answer any other query. “Go on.”

My lips thin to a solid line and I force myself to look contemplative. “So many of the other women know more about the world and the Voltan than I do. I don’t want to embarrass myself when I interact with your people.”

Okay, so I am laying it on a bit thick, but a girl has to use whatever is in her arsenal. Didn’t she?

“That won’t be a problem,” Colton predicts. “Your masters went to great expense to secure your contract, Aurora. Their only desire is to know more about you.”

“And I wish to know them better, as well,” I happily agree. “That’s why it distresses me when I can’t understand what the other girls are talking about.”

Colton’s smooth brow wrinkles at this. “In regard to what?”

I pretend to be thinking the matter over. “They keep talking about being potential “mates” for their masters. While I know what the root of the word means, I’m not sure what it means to the Voltan.”

“Ahhh,” Coltan says, realization suddenly dawning.

“To the Voltan, the word is very significant. It means your forever partner. The one you never stray from and to whom you are completely beholden. It isn’t particularly common to find one’s mate, though there are many stories told in Voltanese literature about such good fortune.

To our people, there is no higher honor.

No one more beloved and adored than a true mate. ”

I swallow hard as he finishes his statement. “That does sound rather romantic,” I manage to spit out.

“Oh, it is,” Colton agrees. “Now, repeat after me. MA-TE-RI,” he says, emphasizing each syllable with care. “That’s how you pronounce mate in Voltanese.”

“Materi,” I whisper back, wondering if it’s true and if I should have waited, like Oren suggested, for him and Knox to explain this to me themselves.

Knox

The whole flight back to Fort Kent, I’m on edge.

I’m about to meet my mate for the first time.

The closer I get to her, the harder it is for me to relax.

I’m impossibly hard and ready to burn off the stress in the only way I know how: rutting between her thighs like the animal I am. Like only a true mate can.

Once I’ve docked my craft, I head directly for Oren’s office. I don’t bother knocking, simply telling his secretary I’m here to see him and walk in unannounced.

“You’re an hour earlier than I calculated,” Oren says without looking up from his paperwork. “Obviously, I’ve underestimated how lonely those jungles can be.”

I snort my response and take a seat. “The weather was good.”

This time, it’s Oren’s turn to snort. “I’ve been checking the weather reports all day and there were several nasty storm systems in your path the entire way here.”

I shrug. “You know how weather reports are.”

Oren raises a dark brow. “Your speed couldn’t have anything to do with a beautiful redheaded draftee, could it?”

Dropping the pretense I stand. “Where is our mate at present? I wish to see her.”

Grinning from ear to ear, Oren leans back in his chair. “Aurora’s in our room, learning Voltanese from her tutor.”

That was the last thing I expected to hear. “This is your idea?”

Oren’s smile only grew. “Hers. She wishes to be able to communicate with us in our mother tongue.”

My cock, already pounding in my uniform, lengthens and thickens even more at his unexpected revelation. The knot at the base tingles with anticipation. Our mate wishes to learn our language. A surprising finding that pleases me very much.

“Let us go back to our rooms and dismiss her tutor for the day. She has more important things to do with her tongue at the moment than practicing our language.” I can barely restrain myself at this point.

Laughing, Oren stands and stretches. “I thought you might say as much.”

We leave the office, bound for our suite. I don’t ever remember a time when I was this moody. It seemed like the closer I get to my mate, the more amped up I become.

“Take a breath,” Oren instructs as soon as we stop outside our suite.

I don’t need to breathe. I need between my mate’s legs a half a dozen times, and then I’ll be less edgy. I tell Oren this and he frowns.

“She’s a virgin, Knox. We must be careful with her in the beginning,” he pointedly reminds me.

Though I haven’t forgotten, his admonishment is well received. “I understand.”

“Good. Now tell your face and body that because both are giving off the vibe that you’re an absolute heathen intent only on fucking her into next Tuesday.”

It’s true. I am a heathen, and my mate is about to find that out firsthand.

Grinning proudly, I shrug. “She’s our mate. She’ll get used to my animalistic ways.”

Oren swipes his badge and the suite door opens. “After you.”

I can smell her the moment I step inside the room. Her fragrance is the most alluring thing I’ve ever scented. If I thought I was edgy before, now I’m practically crawling out of my skin with need. My flesh prickles with goosebumps and my lungs burn like I can’t get enough air.

Following that magical scent, I see that she’s alone with a man in the shared living room space. I unexpectedly growl with anger the second I spot him. Who is this intruder and why is he sitting so close to our mate? I won’t have it. I’ll kill him first!

Aurora, sitting on the couch beside the interloper, looks up in distress. Our eyes meet and it’s as if my world falls into alignment for the first time. I know I’ve promised Oren I’ll be gentle, but now I know I can’t.

I need her.

Not just to come inside of her lush body, but to possess her totally and completely. Without thought, I growl again and begin to advance on the Voltan male sitting next to my mate.

Oren places his hand on my chest and says, “Thank you, Colton. That will be all for tonight. Knox and I wish to be alone with Aurora.”

Colton doesn’t need to be told twice. Gathering his belongings, he bows his head as he hurriedly exits our suite.

“Is that better?” Oren says quietly so only I can hear him.

I take a moment to compose myself and then nod, but I’m still vibrating with rage. I’m not sure I’ll be free of this negative energy until I have her in my arms.

“Come over here, Aurora,” Oren orders.

I see the fear in her eyes and I remind myself to relax. At over seven feet tall, I know I’m an intimidating sight. The uniform and the weapons don’t help any.

When I catch Aurora looking at my utility belt where a multitude of guns and knives are strapped, I begin to unbuckle it. What I have in mind doesn’t require any of those. The only weapon I need is throbbing hard against my leg, causing my pants to bulge.

“Aurora,” Oren prompts, “We’re waiting.”