She laughed and rolled her eyes. “Efficient?”
Running a hand over her hair, I collected it into my palm, closed my fingers, then tugged, tilting her head toward me. Her eyes opened wide at the dominant action.
“Do not roll your eyes at me, mate. Any other time and you would be over my lap.” I paused, let that sink in. “To answer your question, yes, efficient. I needed a female to breed and I received one via transport. You. But I didn’t expect to find a mate for my cock, my heart. My soul.”
Her eyes went from surprised to gentle.
“You… you feel it, too? I was afraid to say anything. It’s so soon,” she whispered.
I released her hair and moved over her, pressing some of my weight into her, feeling every soft inch. Her hard, pebbled nipples pressed against my chest. I felt the curved rings, the line of chain, the medallions.
“I feel it. The intense pleasure being inside you. The need to join together. I want to crawl up inside you and never leave.”
She laughed and I loved seeing the way her whole face softened and came alive. “I don’t think you’ll fit.” Lifting her hand, she stroked down my cheek, feeling my beard. “Your cock will do.”
“And my seed.”
Her cheeks flushed. “You’re so adamant about your seed being in me.”
I nodded gravely. “I am. It shows you are mine, marked. It shows you have pleased me and that I have pleased you in return. Soon, you will be round with my child. For now, it shows that I can be deep inside you, that that’s where I belong.”
I pushed up to sitting, reached for the necklace about my neck, took it off and held it up for her to see.
“This disk has my symbol on it.” I gripped the round medallion that dangled from the chain. It wasn’t heavy, but it was dense. The two swords crossed pressed into the precious metal was my personal symbol. “The ones on your chain indicate you are mine through my family. No one will doubt my claim on you with them. But this—” I slipped the disk from the necklace’s chain, tossed it up in the air, let it land in my palm, then handed it to her. She studied it as I continued. “—is my own medallion and with it affixed to your chain, will show that you are mine because I chose to give this to you. As you are not from Trion, you do not understand this significance. It is more than a simple disk, it is my life.”
It was the key to the southern continent's subterranean vault. The people of Trion chose to live a simpler life, but that did not mean we were a primitive race. Our technology and weapons were in league with the other races of the Coalition. The vault held wealth and weaponry, knowledge and a record of the ancient bloodlines. With the key, I gave Natalie the most precious gift I could give her. I made her a member of my family, a powerful member, as only myself, my father and my sister had access to the vault. The key required my DNA to activate, but I wanted Natalie to have it. Seeing the symbol of my devotion on her body made my cock hard and my heart ache.
With my power came responsibility, but also danger. Those who would want to overthrow the government—me—would want the secrets that were held within. Sharing it with Natalie meant I found her my equal, not just my bed partner. She didn’t understand this yet and no explanations would clarify this for her. Over time, she’d learn she carried the hope and trust of the entire southern continent between her breasts, affixed to the most intimate places on her body.
“Sit up, please.” I offered her my hand and tugged her to sitting, the chain dangling from her gorgeous breasts swayed. “You are beautiful,” I murmured.
I took the medallion from her fingers. “I was going to wait, Natalie, the thirty days. To let you decide in your own time, or at least in the time the brides program allows, to make your choice. But I don’t want to wait. I know that you belong to me. I want forever, Natalie. I’ll wait if you demand it, but I want you now. I know you belong to me. Say yes.”
She licked her lips, studied me, looked down at her transformation from Earth female to Trion mate. My mate. The chain, the medallions, the shaved pussy, the seed slipping from her. It was an outward indicator that she belonged to me. But on the inside, she had yet to make a choice. I was pushing her, I knew, but I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t wait. The need made it impossible.
“Do you wish to be mine and mine alone? Can I claim you now?”
Tears filled her eyes, then slid down her cheeks.
“Fark,” I swore, then stroked my fingers over her cheek. “No, it’s all right. You can take the time to—”
“No. I mean yes. These are tears of happiness. Yes, I want you to claim me now. I don’t need thirty days to decide.”