Page 25 of Taken to Heimo

“You can go now,” I say as I waddle awkwardly to the wet room attached to this one, trying not to let any of the seed still lodged deep in my body spill out on the floor.

“But I thank you,” I add over my shoulder. My voice catches. It’s shaky. Everything’s shaky.

I expect the door to the wet room to close behind me, but it beeps in alarm. I turn and see Krisxox naked in the doorway, blocking it with his body.

My breathing starts to accelerate. I want to go to him,runto him, taste the way I taste by licking his xora clean.

Oh stars. Tri-God…no!No,I can’t turn to him now unless it’s to beg forgiveness.

“Krisxox, I…”

“You begged for me and now you’re dismissing me.” His voice is cold, his ridges, for the first time, expressionless.

“Hexa.”

He snorts, his hair ruffling in the wind his breath creates.Oh stars, he’s an attractive male…Why does he have to be so attractive?

“Why?”

I shudder. “It shouldn’t have happened.”

“You said that you wanted it to happen.”

“I did.”

“You said that you knew the consequences.”

“Well, I’m a sinner now. I lied.”

He’s silent and I don’t look at him as I step into the water tube in the center of the room. I want to beg him to leave, but I don’t want to talk to him. I want to get clean and pretend…

I don’t know what I want.

“We both did,” he growls and he slams his fist on the wall hard enough to make me jump.

Water rushes over me as I grip the beads around my neck in a vice. “Please leave, Krisxox.”

“Nox.”

Anger. I rub my face roughly and turn away from him, so he can’t see my front. Water washes over me, sending blue lines streaking down my legs. “Krisxox…” My voice is shaking.

“Nox.”

“I don’t understand why leaving me alone now is so difficult for you.” I try to sound strong, but my voice is shaking. “You hate humans.”

“I don’t hate you.”

“I am human. You can’t have it both ways. I…I heard what you said about Miari’s baby…”

“And I heard what you said when I saved your life from my own kind. I killed them for you.”

“You…verax.”

Krisxox shifts, but he doesn’t break my gaze. “I killed them. It was within my authorization from the Raku. I didn’t do anything illegal.”

“But you…they’re dead because of me?”

“They’re dead because ofthem. Because they came into my house and threatened my Xiveri Mate.”