His other three brothers had sent him on different scavenger hunts as well, laughing in delight when he returned, at times bruised and bloody from his journeys. He was about to leave on another hunt that morning when Riley begged him to take her instead to the ancient walled city where she heard Fred and Bob were visiting. They had come from the Curizan home world to visit and sell some of their wares.
He had guided her to a strange-looking device that looked like an oversized jet ski. After he helped her climb on, he told her to wrap her arms tightly around him before he powered it on, and they slowly rose up into the air. Her excited laugh drew chuckles from the surrounding guards who would follow them. Soon, they were gliding through the thick forests.
It had taken them a couple of hours to cover the distance between the two cities. Vox explained they could have made it sooner, but he wanted to show her a little of his world. Riley had grinned in delight as he glided through the thick forests, past thundering waterfalls, and over vast fields of flowers and farmland. Before she realized it, they were landing in a small meadow on the outskirts of the huge walled city.
"We will leave the gliders here. The city is often crowded with visitors from other worlds, and I thought you might like to stretch your legs after the long ride," Vox said quietly as he helped her off the sleek machine.
Riley groaned as she rubbed her palms down along the back of her thighs. "Thank you. I think my butt has fallen asleep," she replied with a grin.
"Shift and we can run for a bit," Vox chuckled.
Riley didn't need to be told twice. She called to her cat, teasing it that she thought she saw a mouse. Within seconds, her cat stood stretching in front of Vox. With a playful swish of her tail, she took off running in delight across through the high grass. Vox quickly shifted and followed her while the four guards with them secured the gliders.
A half hour later, the loud roar of Vox's leopard behind her called out to her to slow as they neared the outskirts of the city where Bob and Fred were currently visiting with Titus and Banu. Riley had learned that this ‘zone' was under the protection of the two brothers. She was excited about seeing them as well but not as much as she was about seeing Bob and Fred. She owed Bob an apology for being mean to him the last time she saw him.
"Riley, shift," Vox called out from behind her.
Riley stumbled as she shifted in mid-stride. She was getting better at it but she was still a little clumsy. She turned and smiled brightly at Vox as he strode toward her. He still took her breath away just watching him. She had a feeling it would always be like that. She glanced down at the glimmering ring on her finger. After she had explained what a "marriage" was and the symbol of a ring, Vox had disappeared for a short period only to return with a bouquet of flowers-roots, dirt, and all-and a handful of rings. He had knelt down in front of her and asked her to "marriage" him. Her eyes softened when she remembered his intense stare as he waited for her reply. They had made love right there on the floor of the living room, rings, flowers, and dirt scattered around them unseen. Later, she had picked out a simple ring that had swirling bands of color that changed as it caught the light. It was set in platinum if she wasn't mistaken and took her breath away. It fit her perfectly, and she couldn't help but gaze at it every chance she got.
Vox had not been finished with her though. He said that Viper was on his way back with Tina and her Grandma Pearl. She had been so excited about the prospect of seeing them she missed the underlining sound of strain in his voice as he told her.
"He said he is still picking salt out of his ass," Vox had said in amusement. "You were not joking when you said your Grandma Pearl would fill his ass full of it. Viper discovered salt pellets will penetrate our fur. He also said your sister is excited about seeing you. They will be here for our marriage ceremony."
He did not tell Riley what Viper had really said about Tina. He was not sure Riley would appreciate some of the more colorful words, much less the threats, Viper had been shouting when he had talked to him last. Opinionated, stubborn, vicious, hard-headed were just a few of them, and those were the nicer ones. He also did not tell her how close she had come to losing her little sister. The information Riley had about her former boss and his father proved to be more dangerous than his mate realized. He had sent copies of the information to Viper so it could be turned over to the proper authorities on Earth. After listening to what happened when that information was shared, he shuddered to think about what would have happened to his mate if the trader had not kidnapped her. He had no doubt she would have perished. Viper had been in an uncontrollable rage as he related what had happened and how he had to take matters into his own hands, otherwise Riley would have lost both Tina and her Grandma Pearl.
"How much further? Are we almost there? Do you think Bob and Fred will be excited to see us? Oh, I hope they are doing well," Riley said as she bounced up and down.
Vox's gaze softened as he watched the excited bloom of color flush his mate's face. It was so much better than the paleness from this morning when she had been sick and threatening to castrate him again for getting her with cub. He had held her pale, shaky form as she lost what little she had in her stomach over and over, until she could barely lift her head. His gaze moved down to her belly. He could tell the slight changes in it already. Her waist was expanding ever so slightly and her huge breasts were even larger. His mouth watered at the thought of the milk they would produce. Hell, his balls drew up just at the thought, and he was ready to pounce on her again.
I can pounce, his cat purred softly. I suckle from our mate.
Guall's balls, this is difficult enough as it is! You know she will not be happy if we take her where the guards can see us again, Vox muttered in despair.
He knew because he had done it once already, and it had taken him hours to get her to come out of the bathroom where she had barricaded herself. She had sworn she would never come out again as long as she lived. He had to cover his mouth to keep the laughter in when she went on to explain how her petrified body would be enclosed in the magnificent bathroom for all to see in the future and historians would explain that she had died of mortification because her hairball soon-to-be-dead fiancé couldn't control his damn cock! He had totally agreed that he couldn't and didn't even want to try.
"Well?" she demanded thumping him on the chest to get his attention. "Do you?"
"Do I what?" Vox asked in confusion.
Riley rolled her eyes and groaned. "You were thinking about sex again, weren't you? You never hear what I say when you are thinking about it, which is like-always! I asked if you thought the guys would be excited to see us," she huffed out, turning back toward the walled city.
Vox reached out, spinning her around, and brushing her lips with his. "Yes, they will be excited to see you. Both have sent missives asking how you were doing. Fred even threatened to come steal you away if I didn't take good care of you."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Riley asked in shock that her two, dear friends had been checking up on her.
Vox flushed and looked away over her shoulder at the gates leading into the city. "I was afraid you would tell them you were unhappy, and they would figure out a way to steal you away from me," he admitted.
He turned back to face her when he felt her soft palm against his cheek. "I love you, Vox. I won't let anyone take me away from you."
"I love you too, Riley. So very, very much it scares me sometimes," Vox whispered. "I have never felt so vulnerable before or been afraid of anything-but the idea of something happening to you terrifies me."
Riley's eyes glittered with tears as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his head down to her so she could kiss him. She ran her tongue along the seam of his lips, purring as they parted for her. Soon their tongues were dueling in a furious battle of passion and desire. She sighed when Vox reluctantly pulled back.
"If we do not stop, I will claim you right here and now. I don't think you will be happy with me if I do that again with the guards watching us," he grunted out tersely.
Riley chuckled as she pulled back with a deep breath. "I'm glad you have your head screwed on straight because mine is not working right, right now. Let's go before I forget we aren't alone," she said with a wink and a giggle at the responding growl.
They entered the city through the huge gates. Riley's eyes took in the neat, clean streets filled with merchants, residents, and traders of all shapes and forms. They walked along the beautiful cobbled roads littered with strange beasts pulling carts and wagons.