Page 11 of Champion (The Outlander Book Club… in Space! #6)

“No, not like that,” Willa spat, irritated by the comparison. “Not at all. There is no cost for services, just two people who like to get together to fuck.”

The air in the room seemed to increase at least ten degrees, and suddenly, the neck of my tunic felt much too tight…

as did the crotch of my trousers. Adtovar seemed amused by the idea, but not me.

There wasn’t room for another single emotion other than want.

I wanted to be Willa’s mate more than anything, but this fuck buddy idea… .

“The more I learn about Earth customs, the more I think it is a very advanced planet.” Adtovar issued a sound that lay directly between a snort and a laugh. He rose to his feet, hands almost touching the ceiling as his long arms stretched upward.

“I am going to sleep,” he announced, kicking his stool toward the wall. “It’s been several rotations since I’ve enjoyed the lumpiness of my cot.”

“You’re not going to camp outside my door?” Willa didn’t seem upset, only curious.

Adtovar jerked his head in my direction. “That’s your mate’s job now.” He clapped me on the shoulder. Whether in encouragement or commiseration, I couldn’t tell. “Have a nice night, Champion.”

“Good night Adtovar.” I stood, following him to the entrance. The door was nothing more than several planks held together with a couple of rough timbers. The twig acting as a deadbolt wouldn’t keep a poivit out.

“You’re not going to sleep outside the door? Like Adtovar did?” Willa asked as I shut the door and engaged the bolt. She regarded me curiously from her chair, fingertips tapping out a rhythm on the tabletop.

“A mate would sleep inside the room with you. Never far away,” I told her, watching the dark blue eyes narrow.

“I don’t believe in all this mate shit, remember?” She challenged, although the vehemence in her voice when mentioning ‘ mate shit’ was not as strong as before.

I crossed my arms over my chest, enjoying the way her eyes widened as my biceps flexed.

“Would a fuck buddy sleep outside?”

Willa barked an amused snort. “No.”

“Well then, neither will I.” She didn’t seem aggravated or worried about my insistence, only slightly amused, the corners of her mouth twitching like she fought a smile. Although I didn’t miss the way her eyes cut warily toward her small cot.

“I will sleep here.” I indicated a space on the floor between the table and the door. “That way, no one can enter.”

Willa’s full lips parted, and for the breath of a moment, I nurtured hope that she would refuse my plan to sleep on the floor and offer me space on her cot instead.

The mattress was small, there would be no way we could lie beside each other and not touch…

or perhaps kiss again. Instead, Willa rose with a huffed “fine” and walked over to the cot, retrieving a couple of furs and a small pillow that she held out in offering.

I took the bedding with a nod of thanks.

Just as well. My cock was still hard from our earlier kiss.

Sleeping in the room with her would be bad enough. Sleeping beside her would be torture.

I situated my bed while Willa disappeared in the bathroom, returning moments later dressed in a thin white shift—a standard issue garment on a Trogvyk slave ship.

Casting me a sheepish glance, Willa climbed onto her mattress, pulling the threadbare blanket up to her shoulders.

I thought of returning one of the furs she’d given me, but knew somehow, she’d refuse the gesture.

The room still held onto the heat of the day but would grow colder as the night wore on.

I’d wait and cover her with the fur while she slept.

Willa’s hand reached for the switch to the only electric light in the room, hesitating to give me time to situate myself on the furs. With a click, the room plunged into darkness and quiet.

Too quiet. Silent save for the soft rustling noise of Willa’s breathing. Breathing I remember had grown harsher with a panting quality in the aftermath of our kiss.

I knew, as far as she was concerned, the action had been an end to a means.

A way to draw out the Aljani guard that had worked surprisingly well.

For me, it had been more… much more. A taste of her sweetness.

A taste of what it would be like should Willa accept our mating.

My own breath deepened, coming faster as my body reacted to my thoughts…

my dreams of holding Willa close. Dreams of how her beautiful pale skin would feel pressed against my pelt, the curves of her breasts pressed against my chest. Dreams of how it would feel to be sheathed inside her hot wetness.

As though conscious of the tact my thoughts took, she shifted on the mattress, rolling to face me. I swallowed hard, trying to corral my errant cock into compliance so she would not be offended.

“Thank you.” She cleared her throat as though the words did not come easily and began again. “Thank you for protecting me today with the guard.”

“You needed little help.” I couldn’t help my soft chuckle.

For one such as Willa, who considered herself a warrior, admitting she needed help wasn’t easy.

My heart squeezed for what it must have taken for her to express her gratitude.

“No doubt you could have defeated him if he hadn’t used the shock stick. ”

“Thanks.”

Silence stretched again, but she did not turn away, and my night vision was good enough that I knew her gaze rested on me.

“I watched you train with Adtovar. Your skills are impressive.” I said after a few minutes. As much as I hated the thought of my mate fighting, I would not do her the disservice of denying her prowess.

Willa gave a soft chuckle. “You’re pretty impressive yourself.”

I stretched, preening under her comment, and felt the slight soreness in my shoulders and arms. “It has been a long time since I have trained with one of his skills.”

“I didn’t think you were a warrior when I saw your fancy robes,” she teased.

I laughed softly, realizing with a start that I’d left my Sage robe somewhere in the training area.

Taking it off had been like sloughing off a part of myself.

A part that long ago took a vow against violence.

A vow that paled in comparison to the need to protect my mate.

When I saw the guard with his hands on her, rage overtook me completely.

I would have killed the male if Willa had not stopped me.

“I trained as a warrior… most Vaktaire younglings do,” I admitted. “But it has been many years since I followed the path of the Sage.”

“What’s a Sage?” Willa asked and gave a faint giggle. “On Earth, it’s an herb—a plant that’s mostly used in cooking.”

“In my culture, a Sage is a wise man—a peacekeeper and diplomat.”

Willa grew so quiet that I began to wonder if she believed me capable of holding the title of Sage. Honestly, I was beginning to wonder myself. My reaction to the Aljani guard would be considered highly shameful for someone of my station.

“Charick.” Her voice was softer, and the way she said my name caused a fierce longing to jolt through my body. “Do you really believe all that mate shit—that there’s some goddess out there playing matchmaker for us?”

“Yes.” I didn’t hesitate in my answer. My hand found the spot just over my heartbeat. “Even now, I feel my heart increase in tempo… perhaps the same as yours.”

Willa gave a snort of disbelief but didn’t refute my theory. Progress, especially if she’d accepted that our heartbeats thrummed in unison.

“I hope you will give me a chance to prove how wonderful our mating could be,” I told her, hearing the faint intake of breath and feeling the uptick in our joined heartbeat as my words settled.

She drew a deep breath, letting it go with a sigh. “Well, in the words of one of my favorite fictional characters… tomorrow is another day. Goodnight Charick.”

“Good night, my Willa.”

My words claimed her. I half expected her to scold me for the liberty, but through the darkness, I watched her lips curve into a smile.