Page 34 of Needed in the Night (The Fortusian Mates, #2)

ISLA

Mikas kissed my jaw and held me tight against his chest with both arms as if even now he worried I might slip from his grasp.

My gaze drifted to the basking stone, on which I had yet to come.

I was so tired and sated that I didn’t mind that we’d substituted the sofa for the stones.

Well, there would be other basking stones.

I certainly hadn’t suffered any hardship, and neither had Mikas.

I still fluttered around his cocks, which throbbed inside me in a way that made my toes curl even now.

Gods, could I have this bliss for the rest of my life? Could a woman who’d had nothing but a single case of clothing and a handful of credits to her name only months ago have something so good and perfect?

Maybe so.

Somewhere nearby, presumably, while Mikas and I were busy —to use Pioni’s phrase—Atlath and our other allies were working on ways to get us off Fortusia and away from Nubo’s anger.

My faith that they would find a way had allowed me to lose myself in Mikas’s attentions and the comforts of this temporary safe harbor.

And it was worth a lot to have someone at my back, both literally and metaphorically.

I had a home that wasn’t a place, but a person—or I would, if we stayed together. The prospect seemed more compelling by the minute.

“You are content,” Mikas murmured, his lips against my ear. “At peace.”

“Yes.” I raised his hand to my lips and kissed it. “You could tell by my scent?”

“Everything about how you feel and smell tells me so.” He rested his nose against the back of my neck and inhaled deeply.

“And what about you?” I asked. “Are you content and at peace?”

“Never doubt that I am.” He stroked his thumb over my fingers. “You do not mind that I relax and comfort you with my coo?”

“Mind? Hardly.” I smiled. “Taking cocks that big, with an even bigger knot, without pain? I like that coo very much.”

“My coo does much more for my mate than allow you to take my knot.”

“What else does it do?”

He nuzzled the back of my neck. “Last night, you had bad dreams. When I cooed, you were no longer distressed, and I think your dreams became more pleasant.”

I’d thought he’d sung to me during the night. Apparently, it was a coo, not a song, that had made me feel so good. And though I had vague impressions of nightmares, I recalled none of them, and woke up feeling more fully rested and happy than I had in a very long time.

“I coo only for my mate,” he added. “It is a sound I make only for you, when you are distressed or in pain…and when you want to take my knot. ”

I closed my eyes and focused on the heat and sensations of his cocks, and thought about the fact he could soothe me simply with his voice.

I dimly recalled hearing about that aspect of Fortusian true mate physiology a long time ago, but it hadn’t really registered with me as meaningful at the time.

I’d certainly had no inkling that someday I might benefit from a seemingly miraculous ability.

He remained fully—and doubly—inside me. The full-to-bursting sensation was a kind of comfort I hadn’t known I liked until now.

You don’t just like having your pussy and ass stuffed with Mikas’s cocks, Isla Mair , I thought. You love it.

“The galaxy is vast.” Mikas said, his body so warm and soothing and strong next to mine. “We can go far from here, far from Ngara. Find a beautiful world and make our future there. Where would you like us to go, my mate?”

Us .

Since my mother died, I had never been part of an us , even when I was part of the Web.

I thought of the moment last night—had it really only been last night?

—that I’d taken Mikas’s hand and urged him to follow me into the tunnel that led to our escape route from the perfume shop.

In that moment, though I hadn’t realized it at the time, I had begun to think of Mikas and me as an us .

We’d needed to get to safety together. And not just because he’d had my torn underwear in his pocket and my slickness on his fingers and tongue.

In fact, I might have thought of Mikas and me as an us long before that, whenever I sat at the bar to talk to him while feeling safe in his presence. And that was probably why I lay here now, so content. Because we’d been an us for a very long time.

“I’m sorry it took me so long to figure this out,” I said, hoping he understood what I meant.

He kissed my ear. “Isla, no apology is necessary. Our friendship is the best thing in my life. I would not have traded these past few months for anything.”

“Me neither.” I squeezed his hand. “How long will your knot last?”

“Another ten or twenty minutes. Less if I do not wait until it eases completely.” Mikas rumbled. “I do not want to rush. I want to savor this feeling.”

“I don’t want to rush either.” I chuckled. “But if it’s up to me, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to savor this exact feeling so I can savor it too.”

“Of course it is up to you.” He pulled me a little closer. “Your autonomy is as important to me as it is to you. In all things, you must always tell me what you wish to do, and what you do not. You have my word I will respect your choices without question.”

“But when it comes to our future, we’ll make those choices together.” I bit my lip. “Do you really want to leave Fortusia?”

“I have many reasons to love my homeworld. If we would be safe here, I would be very content to stay.” He rested his head on mine. “But we are not safe, so we must go where we will find safety and happiness. What would make you happy, my Isla?”

In answer, I wiggled my bottom. He sucked in a breath at the sensation of his cocks moving inside me. I chuckled.

“Other than that,” he said finally, his voice a bit ragged.

“I want to sing,” I said. “Besides being here with you, the happiest I’ve ever been in my life was onstage at Zaa’ga, singing and watching you pour drinks while Brae feasted on insects outside.”

“Then that is what we will seek.” He hummed. “Do you know of the planet Jakora?”

“I think so.” I frowned and thought. “I’ve never been there. It’s a resort planet, isn’t it?”

“Yes. By all accounts, it is breathtakingly beautiful, with lavender oceans, beaches with the softest sand, and endless resorts, clubs, and bars where a Fortusian bartender and human singer might find work.” He caressed my arm.

“It is also far from here, on the edge of Alliance space, but safe—or as safe as any world might be.”

He let go of my hand and tapped on his wristcomm. A hologram appeared above his arm of a purple planet swirled with lavender clouds, orbited by a half-dozen moons.

The hologram zoomed in past the moons and showed more details of Jakora while scrolling through images of the ocean, beaches, and resorts.

“It’s beautiful.” I tore my gaze away from the hologram and looked up at Mikas. “Are there plenty of insects so Brae stays plump and happy?”

“Very rich in insect life,” he confirmed after consulting his wristcomm screen. “A shadowbat’s paradise, as well as paradise for us. I have enough in savings to keep us comfortable until we find work someplace together.”

“I have some savings too—not a fortune, but you won’t have to pay for everything.” I pulled his head down so his forehead rested on mine and I could gaze into his beautiful yellow eyes. “Should we go to Jakora?”

“That is my vote.” He brushed his lips on mine. “What do you say?”

I searched my heart for any hesitation, or reason to suggest something else, or even any fears, and found none. Jakora’s beauty had already stolen my heart.

Ours were not the only votes that counted, though. The decision had to be unanimous.

Brae , I thought, reaching out for my best friend. Mikas and I are thinking about going to Jakora. Would you ? —

Book passage , Brae said. His voice in my head was so excited it was nearly a squeak. I’ve always wanted to taste Jakoran crickets.

All right. I smiled, though he couldn’t see it. Anything to report?

Atlath’s shop is closed today, he said, with less cheer in his voice.

I’m perched in a tree next to the shop. I’ve seen six people we know work for Nubo in the market, and Slug has been outside the shop doors since last night.

Either Atolani don’t need much sleep or she’s highly motivated to find a way to get her talons into you.

But everything’s quiet. Do you want me to go to Zaa’ga and try to see what Nubo is doing?

I bit my lip. Let me discuss that with Mikas.

I sensed a tingle of warmth through our bond. I’m very happy for you both , he said.

Mikas touched my face, drawing my attention. “Isla?”

“Yes.” I covered his hand with mine. “I was talking to Brae. That makes three votes for Jakora.”

The absolute joy in his smile made me pull him to me for a long kiss.

When his lower cock moved, I gasped against Mikas’s mouth. Hot cum that had been held inside me trickled down my thigh. His knot had begun to ease.

A twinge of something like sadness made my chest ache. I’d already become accustomed to the reassuring sensation of his knot—a connection I’d never shared with anyone else.

Mikas wrapped me in his arms and drew me close with my back against his chest once more. “The end of our first knotted mating is bittersweet, but I prefer to think of it as a beginning.”

I held his hand in both of mine as his knot eased. His cocks had softened only a little, though. How many times could Mikas come before he couldn’t come any more?

Someday I would endeavor to find out, but I suspected today was not that day. We had to book passage to Jakora and find a way to get to the port safely. But I did nothing but be held and comforted until Mikas’s knot had gone away.

When Mikas finally eased me free of him, I flinched. “I’m sore,” I said before he could ask. “It’s not bad.”

“You need to soak in a warm bath.” He gathered up the discarded robe, wrapped me in it, and carried me to the bathroom, where he sat on the side of the enormous tub with me on his lap. As it filled with fragrant pink water, he kissed my temple. “I will clean up after us and then join you.”

“Bathe with me first,” I countered, lacing our fingers together. “Then we can clean together after.”

“I am persuaded.” He chuckled. “I fear I am fated to lose every argument before it begins.”

I kissed his knuckles. “I promise to only occasionally take advantage of that fact.”

Once we were in the bath, he insisted on washing and combing out my hair. No one had ever done that for me before, and it was marvelous. We were briefly distracted from our mission to get clean while I thanked him with kisses.

As we washed ourselves—and each other—with soap and soft cloths, I told him what Brae had said about the shop and Nubo’s agents. He listened, his mouth a tight line.

“Brae could go to Zaa’ga and try to spy on Nubo,” I finished. “I’m sure Nubo isn’t going to just wait for us to walk out of here. He must be plotting something. I’d like to know what.”

“As would I.” He drew me close. “Your companion is a very excellent spy. If you think he can do this safely, then I am in favor of it.”

I reached out again to Brae. If you can get into Zaa’ga and find out what Nubo is planning, then go ahead , I said. But your safety is more important than anything else. If it’s dangerous, just come back.

I will , he promised.

In the meantime, Mikas and I are going to talk to Atlath about booking travel to Jakora and getting to the port safely. I’ll let you know what we decide. Be safe and check in regularly until you get back. I love you.

Love you too, Isla.

I leaned against Mikas’s chest and sighed. “He’s going to Zaa’ga. ”

“Good.” He kissed my hair. “My Isla, I am ready to be away from Nubo and on our way to Jakora. Are you?”

“Yes.” I took a deep breath and let it out. “I’m ready.”