Page 27 of Needed in the Night (The Fortusian Mates, #2)

MIKAS

I woke in an instant, launched from a deep, contented sleep to wide awake and alert as if by primitive catapult. My hearts raced like I had been startled by a loud noise, but our room was silent except for the soft sound of the waterfall.

In the next breath, I knew what had roused me: the sharp, almost metallic scent of fear and pain—my mate’s fear and pain. Isla whimpered in her sleep, her body tense and shaking in my embrace. My hearts ached for her.

My years as a soldier had left me with a reconstructed right leg, intrusive flashbacks, and frequent nightmares. And though I had yet to hear Isla’s story of how she came to live on Fortusia, she had told me enough—and I had observed enough—to know she had suffered.

Almost miraculously, from the day Isla had first crossed my path, the frequency of both my nightmares and flashbacks had dwindled significantly.

The mere presence of my true mate had granted me a reprieve from torments I had once thought would never cease.

Now, as she flinched and trembled in ways I knew all too well, I wished I could do the same for her.

A strange, shuddering feeling I did not recognize rose in my gut and rolled through my chest.

I had a moment to think that I should have felt concern over this strange sensation that could have been a medical emergency, but that thought vanished in a wave of warmth that rose and intensified until it reached my throat.

The warmth felt good, and pure, and right.

It felt like love itself, as little sense as that might have made if I tried to explain it to another.

I opened my mouth. A low, sweet, vibrant sound emerged I had never made before, and might have said I could not make if I had been asked. Its effect on Isla was instantaneous. She exhaled, her muscles loosened, and the scents of fear and pain faded.

I gazed at her in awe. I had cooed for my mate and eased her distress with the sound.

As a Fortusian, I had known I would have a way of soothing and even relieving any pain experienced by my true mate, but knowing of such a wonder and experiencing it were very different things indeed.

Experimentally, I cooed again. She sighed contentedly, murmured something unintelligible, and snuggled closer, her palm pressed to my chest over my pounding primary heart. Perhaps even in her sleep, she wanted to feel it beating. Perhaps it comforted her.

I had yearned with all my hearts to bring Isla the same peace in my soul that her presence gave me, and this was one way I could do that.

I knew the science of true mates and our unique physiology, but in this moment none of the science seemed important.

The way Isla comforted me, and I comforted her, was nothing less than miraculous.

The chronometer on the bedside table indicated I had slept for five hours—more than enough to restore my energy and begin a new day.

But as a human, Isla needed more sleep, especially after such a trying and emotional night.

I was certainly content to hold her while she slept.

In fact, I could not imagine doing anything else.

I lay awake for a long time, cradling Isla and not allowing myself to think about the uncertainty that surrounded us. A few more times she made little worried sounds as if her dreams had taken a dark turn. I cooed softly and she quieted, returning to peaceful sleep.

Once her scent lost all trace of fear or pain, I closed my eyes and nestled my nose against her hair. If another nightmare surfaced, she would not have to suffer it alone or for long. I would instinctually wake just as I would if physical danger threatened us.

I was made to care for Isla, to fight beside her, to make love to her. To ensure she was happy and safe. I had not truly understood how profoundly content that fact would make me until this moment.

Adrift in the wonder of her, I pressed my lips to her hair and dozed.

Isla was indeed exhausted and slept soundly for several more hours.

Unfortunately, as much as my hearts and soul wanted to hold her until she woke, my body ached from lying on such a soft bed—especially my right leg.

When the discomfort became pain, I reluctantly gathered the bedding around Isla to form a warm and comforting nest and slipped out of bed, careful not to jostle her.

She murmured and snuggled deeper into the blankets.

Gods, what a vision she was with her rainbow hair fanning out over her pillow and a hint of a smile on her lips.

Perhaps her dream was pleasant. I hoped so, with all my hearts.

And to think only yesterday I had no inkling that when I opened my eyes this morning it would be to the sight of my mate sleeping in my arms.

Silently, I made my way down the stone steps to the glass-enclosed terrarium.

While last night Isla’s eyes had lit up at the sight of the waterfall and pool, the heated stones had caught my attention.

My setup in my apartment was inexpensive.

These stones were the same level of luxury as the rest of the suite.

My nonhuman DNA was reptilian rather than amphibious, but everything about the terrarium welcomed me, from its high humidity to the basking stones. I folded my sleepwear in a neat stack—a soldier’s habit—and lay nude on the largest stone with a rumbly sigh of contentment.

The radiant warmth soaked into my body from below as the infrared heat from above did the same. It would be heavenly if Isla were here with me rather than still in bed, but I could not imagine she would find this rock anything close to comfortable.

From where I lay, I could just see Isla’s still form on the bed.

The waterfall masked the comforting sound of her deep breathing, which I missed as much as her touch.

Her scent on my skin would carry me through until I returned to her side.

In fact, if she accepted me as her mate, I need never be without her scent ever again.

I closed my eyes and luxuriated in warmth that radiated from below, above, and within.

I drifted peacefully for as much as a half hour. Time grew hazy, as if often did while I basked.

Thanks to the waterfall and my near trance-like state, I did not hear the bedding rustle. But the moment my ears caught the telltale padding of bare feet descending the stone steps, my thoughts cleared and my body came alive.

At the sound of a splash, I opened my eyes to see my Isla gliding underwater, crossing the pool from its far side to my basking stone. Her sleepwear lay in a pile near the stone steps.

As graceful and beautiful as a Basilian mermaid, she surfaced beside me, her face upturned and rainbow hair streaming behind her. She treaded water with sinuous movements that enthralled me.

“The water is nice and warm,” she said. “How are the rocks?”

“Hot and comfortable, as I had hoped they would be.” I reached down to touch her face. She leaned against my hand. “You slept well?”

“Very.” A little furrow appeared between her brows. “I had a strange dream that you sang to me. You didn’t actually sing me to sleep, did you?”

“No, though I would like to.” The thought made me smile. I needed to explain my coo to her, but I did not want to spoil her mood by bringing up her nightmares, so instead I added, “I am sorry I left the bed.”

“Don’t apologize. I’m sure it’s much too soft for you.” She made a face. “Don’t expect me to sleep on rocks, though. We’ll have to work out a compromise.”

I chuckled. “I would not expect you to sleep on a rock. I only bask for a few minutes or hours at a time myself. I am still very human-like in many ways, and I sleep in a bed.”

“Thank goodness.” Her smile returned. “Just not beds that are about as firm as clouds.”

She had not commented on my nudity, and while we had talked her gaze had remained on my face.

But she had certainly seen all of me now, though not necessarily in the way I had originally planned to reveal my body to her.

Then again, perhaps this was better. She could study me with a clear mind rather than in a haze of desire.

And maybe subconsciously I had chosen to bask nude knowing she was likely to see me and one of the last walls between us would fall.

To say her body captivated and aroused me infinitely more than any lover I had ever known would be an understatement, but that was no guarantee she would feel the same about mine.

And despite her dismissal of my concerns about her reaction to my body, a knot of tension remained between my shoulder blades and my stomach roiled.

My unease must have shown in my expression, because her joking demeanor gave way to a gentler and more sensuous expression when she said, “Why you thought your body might horrify me, I have no idea.”

Now her gaze swept over me unabashedly, taking in every detail much as I had devoured the sight of her with her legs spread wide for me in Madame Ycari’s back room.

My cocks, already aroused by her nakedness, hardened and beaded with lubrication under her scrutiny.

When her tongue darted out to lick her lips, I quaked, and drops of precum welled up and began to drip.

Gods, I would never be able to look at my mate without wanting her with every atom of my being. But far from being a curse, it would be heaven itself, especially after so many months dreaming of a single touch from her.

Isla’s voice was husky when she met my gaze again and added, “You’re a masterpiece.”

Surely there was one masterpiece in this room, and it was not me. “I am hardly that.”

“Mikas.” She frowned. “Don’t argue with your mate.”

My breath caught and my cocks leapt at both her tone and how she had referred to herself as my mate.

Rather than continue treading water, she moved to the side of the pool and folded her arms on the edge of my basking stone to hold herself up.

“Ooh, that does feel nice,” she said with a little sigh.

Perhaps she had expected the rock to be too hot for her to enjoy.

“Maybe I could get used to it, at least for a few minutes at a time. Especially if I could lie on top of you instead of the rocks.” She eyed my dripping cocks. “Though you seem just as hard.”

“I am.” And I always would be for my Isla.

I leaned over and kissed her. How it was possible for her to taste better, sweeter, and more perfect with each kiss, I did not know, but it was yet another wonder of my mate I accepted happily and without question.

When the kiss ended, she raised her eyebrows, a playful smile on her lips. “So, are you coming in the pool? Or am I coming up there?”

“I think,” I rasped, “you will be coming in both places.”

In one smooth movement, I rolled to a crouch and dove into the water to claim my beautiful mate.