Page 19

Maklr

Nell walked into the kitchen. Her steps were slow, hesitant. “What’s on your mind?” Maklr asked.

“I can’t believe we’re going to have to go back to Dorbound in a few days.”

Maklr nodded. “We have a few more days. Charlie sent me a comm. The work on your family section started yesterday. She was worried when I didn’t message her back.”

Nell groaned and put her head in her hands. “Oh no. I hope she doesn’t think something’s wrong. When did she message?” Nell opened her tablet.

“Last night.”

“Crap. She sent me half a dozen messages, and I didn’t reply to any of them.” She punched a message into the tablet. “Sending her a comm now.”

“We were busy enjoying ourselves.” Maklr winked. “At least I was.”

Nell’s face turned crimson. “Oh.”

Maklr knelt in front of her. “Do you regret it?”

“Not at all.”

“Did I do something wrong?” he asked.

Nell stroked Maklr’s hair. “You did everything right. It’s me. I’m embarrassed.”

“Why?”

“Because…” she waved her hands wildly.

“Because it was your first time with my mouth on your pussy?”

“First time anyone put their mouth there.”

Maklr rumbled low in his throat. His eyes darkened.

“Mine. Only my mouth claims your cunt.” His gaze intensified.

“Nell, I know you don’t like possessiveness, but you are mine.

I feel an indescribable need to protect you.

If you wanted someone else to touch you intimately, it’d take all my willpower not to kill them. ”

Nell’s eyes opened wide. “I only want you.”

“Good.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t reciprocate. I know what males like.”

Maklr gripped the chair leg. “Not all males are the same. I am yours. Your pleasure and comfort are paramount. Any male worth knowing feels the same way.”

Nell’s eyes filled with tears. “You didn’t get off. And we didn’t have sex.”

“Who said I didn’t?” Maklr rested his cheek on Nell’s knee. “You felt overwhelmed.” Plus, it was dark and my pants were on. Remember what I said. You are mine. I don’t care how long it takes, or if we never get to that point. When you’re ready, I’ll be here, waiting for you.”

“What if it takes years?” Nell asked, her voice small.

Maklr shrugged. “It will take however long it takes until you are comfortable. If that point never comes, then it doesn’t.”

“You’ll want to give up on me.”

“Never.” He took her hands in his, resting them on her knees. “I will never give up on you Nell. Look how far you’ve come. I have no doubt that one day, you’ll be ready. And as long as you want me, I’ll be there with you.”

“I want to be with you,” Nell whispered. “I’m just not ready.” Her fingers intertwined with his.

“I can wait. I’ve spent most of my life pretending I didn’t need anyone,” he said.

“Why?”

“Because needing someone meant they could leave at any moment.”

“Your brother,” Nell murmured. “And now?” she asked. “You know I’m not going to leave you.”

He looked down at their hands, then slowly squeezed her fingers. “You want honesty and my raw emotions. I’m terrified of losing you. I need you, and I’m not as strong of a person as you are.”

She leaned forward, resting her forehead against his. “That’s not a weakness. And I’m not strong.”

Their breath mingled in the space between them. He reached up, cupping the side of her face. At first, his touch was tentative. She leaned into his caress. When he kissed her, it wasn’t about hunger. He poured his soul into the kiss, filling it with trust and devotion.

Nell’s comm beeped, signaling an incoming vid call. They jumped apart, startled by the intrusion. “Oh shit. It’s Charlotte. Do I look okay?”

“Aside from your lips being swollen from my kiss, you look fine.” Maklr winked. He handed her a mug. “Here.”

Nell quickly took a sip of the steaming tea. She held the mug to her lips and answered Charlotte’s call.

“Nell! Is everything okay? You didn’t answer my messages or calls. How come?”

“I was busy last night.”

“Busy?”

“Yes, you sent me to this resort to relax. I was.”

“How are things going with Maklr?” Charlotte asked. “He’s not interrupting your relaxation, is he?”

“Better than I expected,” Nell said.

“He’s being a complete gentleman, right?”

“Of course.”

“See, I told you there was nothing to worry about with him.”

“I know.”

“Want the truth?”

“Huh?”

“I’ve worked with him a long time, and he’s never taken an interest in anyone outside of work related relationships. I knew you’d be safe with him.”

Maklr gestured for Nell’s attention. He made a motion as if he were fishing.

“So, Maklr doesn’t like people?”

Charlie sighed. “I don’t know. But he’s harmless.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” Nell said. “I think, given the right circumstances, he could be a very passionate man.”

“If you say so.”

“I do. He put his rather large friend in place when the friend was too loud for me.”

“Philtan?”

“How’d you guess?”

“Phil’s the biggest Klagan I’ve ever seen. He’s adorable, but kind of dense.”

“Maklr yelled at him for making me uncomfortable. And he punched him in the jaw.”

“We’re talking about the same guy, right? The medic who couldn’t fight his way out of a wet paper bag? That Maklr?”

“Hi Charlie,” Maklr said, dragging a chair next to Nell. “Good to know you think so little of my protective abilities. Although I don’t use my training much anymore, I am still a fully qualified warrior. I prefer to use my superpowers for good, not evil.”

Nell grinned. “You are learning about human culture.”

“Don’t worry, Charlie,” Maklr said. “You can rest assured Nell is in expert hands.”

“Very capable hands,” Nell piped up. “If I get a splinter, he can help me with that. If I burn myself cooking, he can fetch a regen wand.”

“If you wanted, I could even put a bandage on a stubbed toe.” Maklr and Nell laughed.

“It’s good to see you happier, both of you,” Charlie said. “I have to go, but I’m glad we caught up. Zand will fly out in a few days to bring you back to Eoris. The additions to the center are well underway and will need a few final touches when you return.”

Nell’s eyes turned serious. “Okay. See you soon.” She ended the call.

As soon as she put the tablet down, Maklr turned to her. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Nell,” Maklr said.

“I know we have to go back. Our lives are there, but I’m enjoying myself. For the first time in ages, I feel like I’m living.”

“We have a few more days. We can do whatever you want.”

“Did you have anything in mind?”

“Can we go back to the waterfall? The one with the pool we went to on our first day?”

“Of course. Don’t forget to wear your bathing suit,” Nell said.

“I’m already wearing mine,” he said. “The weather is warm here, and I didn’t bring any pairs of short pants. Actually, Charlotte didn’t pack any for me.”

“I didn’t realize. Good point.” A few minutes later, she emerged from the bedroom covered in the resort’s signature brown robe. “While it may be warm for you, I’m still a bit chilly and I don’t feel like walking to the falls in my bathing suit,” she said.

“Fair.” They walked hand in hand to the first waterfall. Nell kicked off her shoes and sat on the ledge. Maklr stripped his shirt off and hopped into the water. He leaned back, his elbows rested on the stone. “It’s beautiful here,” he said, glancing at the waterfall.

“Are there places like this on Eoris?”

Maklr shook his head, a faraway look in his eyes. “Maybe. To be fair, I haven’t traveled much in the last few revolutions, not since I got off the ships.”

“But you want to travel, right?”

“Maybe. I would love to come back here again,” he said.

“Me too.” Nell unknotted the sash on her robe. She shrugged it off her shoulders. “Catch me,” she said.

Maklr stood in front of her, arms extended. Nell pushed off the ledge into his waiting embrace. He carefully lowered her into the water.

“The water’s lovely. How come you didn't tell me earlier?”

“You look peaceful. I didn’t want to disturb you. When we first met it was rare you had a look of serenity on your face. Now, I’m happy to report, it’s much more common.”

“Maklr,” a jovial voice called out.

Nell looked at Maklr. “I know I said I wanted it like the first day, but did he have to be here?”

“I didn’t communicate with him,” Maklr protested. “I’ve been with you the entire time. When would I have had a chance?”

“Hello, Nell,” Philtan greeted her. He had a different woman on his arm.

“I’m Jessie,” she said. “Human or Sudabian?” she asked.

“Human,” Nell answered.

“It’s hard to tell sometimes.”

Phil smiled at Jessie. “It’s why I wanted to clarify a few times with you.”

Nell sidled up to Maklr’s side, finding comfort in his arms. “Are you two together?” Jessie asked, eyes narrowing at them.

“Yes,” Maklr said.

“Cool.” Jessie turned and pulled something out of her bag, inflating it.

“Do you want to have a friendly competition?” Phil asked.

“What kind?” Maklr asked.

“I replicated a beach ball. Jessie told me about a human game where girlfriends sit on top of their boyfriend’s shoulders and they hit the ball back and forth. The first to fall in the water loses.” Philtan looked at them expectantly.

“I don’t know,” Maklr said. “We were just floating and relaxing.”

“Why not? It sounds like fun,” Nell said.

“No hard feelings?” Philtan asked.

Nell extended her hand to Phil. “None.”

Phil bent under the water, submerging himself to his neck. Jessie climbed onto his back, using his horns as handles.

“I’m not as big as Phil. I can’t do that,” Maklr said.

He placed Nell up on the ledge and turned his back so Nell could climb on.

“Drop your calves over my shoulders.” Nell obliged.

Maklr stood, lifting Nell onto his back.

He walked to the center of the pool. “How does this game work?” he asked Jessie.

Jessie sat straight and threw the ball toward Nell.

Nell leaned forward and spiked the ball back in Phil’s and Jessie’s direction. Jessie stretched her arm, hitting it back in Nell and Maklr’s direction. Nell nudged Maklr with her knee.

“Let’s go. We can beat them,” she said, a competitive edge in her voice.

Maklr patted her thigh. “That’s my girl.” They volleyed the ball back and forth multiple times, laughter filling the air.

Nell leaned forward. Maklr’s damp mohawk dripped water between her breasts.

She smacked the ball with all her might.

It bounced off Jessie’s forehead and into the water.

She slid to the side, her knee hitting Philtan in the temple.

Philtan lost his balance, and they toppled in.

They emerged spluttering. “Good game. You win.”

Maklr lifted Nell, kissing her solidly.

“Phil,” Jessie complained. “I don’t like to lose.”

“Neither do I,” Phil replied. “Should we try again?”

Nell looked at Maklr. “What do you say? Should we go for the best two out of three?”

“Let’s go,” Maklr said.

“I got you a little gift,” Nell said.

“You didn’t have to get me anything.”

Nell tilted her head. “I know. It just felt like the right thing to do. I wanted to commemorate our time here on Ashuk.” Nell handed him a palm-sized black box tied with a white ribbon.

She placed it in his hands. “Go on, open it,” she encouraged.

“I hope you like it. It’s a little thank you for helping me create the best memories I’ve had in years, all because of you. ”

“Nell, you gave it to me. How could I not love it?” Maklr plucked at the bow on the top. The ribbon slid off. He opened the lid. A silver-colored watch contrasted with the black foam padding inside the box. “A timepiece!”

“I thought it was appropriate. I’ve seen you in action at the center. You get lost in your activities and sometimes forget where you’re supposed to be. It has multiple settings and alarms you can set for different schedules.”

“I can use it for my rounds, or, more importantly, for dates with a certain person,” he said.

Nell flushed. “Charlie?”

“Maybe. I was thinking of a certain somebody else.”

“Really?”

Maklr tilted Nell’s chin up for a kiss. “Thank you.”

“Wear it in good health.”

Maklr looked at her, a confused expression on his face. Nell shook her head and laughed. “That’s one human saying I don’t know how to explain.”