Page 40 of Master (The Outlander Book Club… in Space! #3)

"Why exactly would your goddess not bless our union? Is it because I'm human?"

I chuckled, rubbing my thumb along her bottom lip, loving how it plumped from our kisses.

"No. Your friends mating with my Chieftain and War Chief show the Valana accepts matches between Vaktaire and humans." This next part would be a source of shame on my planet, and I couldn't meet her gaze when admitting, "The goddess may not bless us because I presented our mating as a deception."

"You only did that to protect me,” Clara countered, a deep furrow growing between her brows.

"Yes, but the goddess may never forgive my transgression."

Clara issued a huff, frowning. "What exactly does this blessing entail?"

"We call it the valakana." I let my fingertips trail over the pulse in her neck, unable to let my touch linger on the reminder we would never truly be blessed.

"When a Vaktaire male finds a female he desires, he claims her as a mate in front of others.

On my home world, the claiming is part of a ritual done before a priest or priestess. "

"Like humans claim each other in a wedding?" Clara asked, eyes narrowing as she took in my words.

I knew the concept of wedding . I'd seen mentions of Earth's formal mating ceremony in my studies.

"Yes. If the Valana accepts the mating, she bestows a blessing that binds the couple for eternity."

"What kind of blessing?"

My heart twisted, knowing as much as I wanted Clara, we would never have the kind of connection shared by a blessed pair. Still, I forced a smile to my lips as I answered.

"The Valana's blessing binds the couple. It keeps them…." I paused, thinking of the best way to describe it. "It keeps the couple in sync with each other, always."

"In sync? How?"

I let my fingertips trail again over her pulse for a second.

"The valakana is the process where the heartbeats between two mates unify, forever beating in perfect unison until the day death parts them.

It is an intense process and not without pain.

Until your friend Emmy mated with our Chieftain, most believed the ritual was only survivable by Vaktaire. "

Clara blinked at me, a wide grin splitting her face.

"Let me get this straight. Being blessed by your goddess means your heartbeat matches the rhythm of your mate's heart… right?"

"Yes," I admitted sadly. I did not regret the lie to keep her safe, but I regretted what it cost us.

Clara's eyes widened, and I stiffened, waiting for her upset.

Instead, she giggled.

More than a giggle. She threw her head back and laughed from deep in her belly.

I gaped at her, which only made her laugh harder.

In answer to my stare, she picked up my hand, laying it between her breasts and over the steady beat of her heart.

My first instinct was to jerk my hand away as though she'd laid it on a flame, but she placed her hand over mine, holding the touch in place.

It was torture… the reminder that no matter how much we cared for each other or how long we stayed together, the Valana would never bless us as true mates. My heart stuttered with sorrow, the beat skipping and slowing, echoing in my ears.

And under the palm of my hand.

My mouth opened and closed, disbelief and joy fighting a war to determine which escaped as sound.

"How… when?" I finally managed, pressing my hand more firmly atop her heart. The beat under my fingers thudded exactly as the organ in my chest.

Clara giggled at my reaction. "I don't know when it happened, but I noticed it a few days ago. When we danced."

"I never thought…." How had I not noticed?

My mind flickered over the past few days, to moments when I thought my heart moved from worry, fear, or desire in a beat not of my own making.

Moments when I wouldn't let myself hope.

I'd been so convinced I'd destroyed the chance for the Valana’s blessing with my lie…

. I didn't let myself see the wisdom of my goddess.

The Valana blessed us the first moment I claimed Clara as mate, knowing the truth of my statement, even when I didn't.

Clara's hands cradled my face, kissing my left cheek and in turn my right.

"No way your goddess couldn't bless us. I love you Tarook."

Her face held the remnants of happy tears, a salty taste I kissed away. My lips caught hers, relishing the softness and her taste.

Clara was mine. Truly mine.

"Say it again," I whispered, trailing kisses from her mouth to her ear and down the curve of her neck.

"I love you."

I caught her face between my palms. The words came easily, thick with emotion. "The Vaktaire do not use the concept of love with our mates. What we feel for them is… more. But know, I would give up everything I have... everything I've ever wanted just to stay by your side one day longer."

Tears shimmered in her beautiful eyes, although her lips curved upward as she linked her arms around my neck. "That's the most perfect definition of love I've ever heard." The smile faltered a bit. "But I don't want you to give up everything for me."

I nuzzled my nose against hers, ignoring the temptation of her lips for a moment longer. "You are my mate. My place is at your side."

"Couldn't I come on the Bardaga with you?" Clara suggested, brows waggling. "Emmy and Daisy are onboard, and honestly… traveling through the stars sounds wonderful."

From how Clara smiled, I know she felt my heart stutter with excitement. "You wish to come on the ship with me?" I'd never dared hope she would want to accompany me on the Bardaga. "I am honored, darlin’, and will dedicate my life to making you happy."

"You already have," Clara breathed, before crushing her lips to mine.

She wrapped her arms around my neck, the faint stutter of discomfort in her heartbeat reminding me of her injury.

Lots of fluids and plenty of rest.

Using more control than I believed existed, I pulled my mouth from hers, scooping her up in my arms and carrying her to the bed.

“Clara darlin’, you’re hurt. The Doc said you needed rest.” I reminded, settling her on the mattress.

“My arm feels fine.” Her full lower lip rolled out in a pout and her hands settled on my shoulders, intent on keeping me on the mattress with her.

I pulled her arm from around me, inspecting the wound. The bruise around her wrist had faded to a faint discoloration and the edges of her bandage showed no further bleeding or swelling.

“At least lay down with me?” Clara pleaded, her violet eyes round and mesmerizing.

I gave a grunt of accession and she scooted to the far side of the bed so I could lie down. Clara plastered herself to my side, hooking a leg over my thighs and trailing a fingertip down my chest to the edge of my loincloth.

Sweet Valana! If she kept this up, I’d have no control.

“I’m trying to take care of you, darlin’,” I said, capturing her hand. After placing a kiss on her palm, I moved our hands to the center of my chest, over the heartbeat we now shared.

“That’s exactly what I want you to do,” Clara purred, wriggling her hips and pressing her core against my thigh. She was naked under the robe and I felt her wetness slick against me.

“Clara,” I growled, shifting to put some space between us.

She yanked her hand from my grasp and raised up on an elbow, violet eyes glaring at me.

“Seriously Tarook, if you leave me all hot and bothered, I’ll toss and turn all night and not get the least bit of rest. However,…” She trailed a fingertip down the line of my chest to the waistband of my loincloth. “I never sleep better than when satisfied.”

I made to pull her hand away but didn’t possess the strength.

“You’re killing me.”

“Then let me revive you, my love,” Clara purred, ripping away the ties and tossing my loincloth to the floor. She settled lower on the mattress, sighing heavily as she stared at the throbbing evidence that I wanted her.

“Clara,” I moaned when her hand encircled the girth of my cock… or at least tried to. Her fingers didn’t quite meet, but that didn’t stop her from stroking me perfectly from root to tip.

“You’re my hero,” she whispered in a husky rasp. “And heroes deserve rewards.”

I felt my member jerk in her grasp, anticipating as she lowered her head.

“Clara,” I groaned as her full, perfect lips placed akiss on the tip.

“I don’t think I can take the whole thing.”

I opened my eyes to find her studying me, her full lips pursed. She raised her violet gaze to me, grinning saucily.

“I always loved lollypops.”

Sweet, fancy Valana!

Slowing the pace of her stroking, her hot, pink tongue began at the tip and moved slowing, in short rhythmic licks down the length of my shaft and up again.

My cock twitched and pulsed, drawing a throaty chuckle from Clara as she addressed herself to my member like it was the most delicious thing she’d ever tasted.

The image of her full, pink lips wrapped around my thick shaft sent a surge of pleasure through my body.

I felt lost in a blissful haze of sensations.

Each touch and movement sent sparks of ecstasy throughout every nerve in my body, driving me towards an indescribable height of pleasure that I never knew was possible.

"Darlin’.”

I might die from this pleasure. The feel of her hands applying just the right pressure, accompanied by the licks and nibbles she bestowed on every inch of my cock. A few more minutes of this and I would come.

It wasn’t right.

Although it may not be our first time after the Valana's blessing, it was our first time after we became aware of being blessed. We needed to consummate the blessing… I wanted… I needed to come sheathed by her perfect body.

Moving so swiftly she couldn’t protest, I grabbed Clara’s shoulders, hauling her up my body, then rolled us, so she lay on her back under me.

“Tarook,” she whined playfully.

“My turn.” I grinned up at her, licking my lips in anticipation as I settled between her thighs.

My finger eagerly sought out her most sensitive spot, tracing a lazy circle around it before applying just the right amount of pressure. She responded with a soft gasp, her body wet and ready for me. I reveled in the sensation of her giving herself over to me, completely and utterly mine.

With a gentle touch, I traced my hands up and down the soft, silky skin of her inner thighs. Lowering my head, my tongue flicked across her swollen clit. Her body trembled beneath me, and a guttural moan escaped her lips, signaling her arousal.

Her core glistened with a layer of moisture, and when my tongue swiped up the first droplet, it was like an explosion on my taste buds. The sensation was overwhelming. A perfect balance of sweetness and tanginess, with a thickness that lingered on my lips.

A surge of liquid burst forth from her, and I eagerly devoured her sweet juices, my tongue dancing in perfect sync with the rhythmic thrusts of my fingers inside her.

The velvety warmth of her inner walls enveloped me as she moaned and writhed beneath me, her body a symphony of pleasure.

Every touch, every taste, amplified the wetness and heat between us.

It was an intense and intoxicating sensation, like being lost in a stormy sea of passion.

“Nothing tastes better than you darlin’,” I groaned, pressing my face tight against her, greedy for more.

She writhed beneath me, her hips undulating with a primal rhythm. Her thighs were like a vise around my head, pulling me closer to her core. She was on the brink of release, and every part of me throbbed with the same need - to join with her, to claim her as mine at this moment.

I took one long, last swipe at her with my tongue before pulling away to nestle my hips between her parted legs.

The sight of her took my breath away. Her skin was flushed and glowing.

Her body trembled with the intensity of her emotions, every muscle quivering with sensation.

The sound of my name on her tongue sent shivers down my spine, and I became suddenly overwhelmed by the depth of my feelings for her.

Clara’s body shuddered beneath me, her voice echoing through the room in a raw cry of pleasure. With every thrust, she pushed back against me, her hips rising to meet mine in a primal dance. Her eyes flew open, wild with passion and desire as we moved together in perfect synchronization.

Her bo dy trembled and convulsed in ecstasy as the climax crashed over her.

I felt the pulsing of her inner muscles, the arch of her back against my chest as she fell apart in my arms. I collapsed on top of her, our bodies pressed together on the soft mattress.

Our movements became so franticthe bed frame rattled beneath us.

My body trembled with the force of my release as my cock erupted inside her.

Breaking our heated kiss, I gazed into her beautiful face, her features contorted in pleasure and ecstasy.

As my seed filled her, I felt something stir deep within me.

It’s as if every cell in my body is shattering and reforming in a new way.

A way that cannot exist without her by my side.

The sensation is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before, a powerful and overwhelming feeling that consumes me entirely.

I fell to my side, drawing her with me so I wouldn’t have to leave the warm cocoon of her body just yet. Clara nestled into my side, our bodies glistening with a sheen of sweat as we pressed against each other.

“I love you, pervert” Her giggle sounded raspy from screaming out her pleasure.

“My mate,” I whispered, brushing her lips with mine. “My darlin’.”