A slight smile curved his mouth. “You don’t need to worry about that. I’m not into that kind of thing.” Placing his big hands on either side of her, Venom leaned down and captured her mouth in a gentle kiss. “You’re mine—and only mine.”
Thinking of how lucky she was to have been Grabbed by a man who didn’t want to share her spurred Dizzy to snatch his white collar from his hands. She fastened it around her neck a little looser than he had when he’d first put it on her. He looked terribly pleased by her action. “What about you, Venom? Do you belong to me?”
“From the moment I first spotted you,” he admitted huskily and swept his fingertip down her cheek. “There was no one else for me.”
She marveled at his unwavering certainty. What had he seen in her that he liked so much? Was it simply her pretty face? What would happen to their relationship when her looks faded or his infatuation with her dissipated?
He tapped her cheek. “What’s got you worried, sugar?”
“What happens when the newness wears off?”
The lines around his mouth crinkled. “We start building something real—and that’s when the true fun begins.”
Chapter Five
As he peered down into her big brown eyes, Venom finally managed to muscle down the irrational jealousy and extreme possessiveness overwhelming him. When he had first entered the hospital room he had been sure Risk was kissing her. It wasn’t until he took a quick step into the room that he had realized the surgeon was merely examining her neck. Even though it had been innocent he’d been gripped by the urge to grab Risk and toss him across the room.
After the little tiff they had just shared, Venom felt sure Dizzy would not have approved of a physical altercation. He reminded himself that she’d willingly taken his collar again. She didn’t seem the least bit tempted by Risk, charmer that he was.
“Listen,” Venom said as he sat down on the bed, “you need to be aware of the realities up here.”
“Okay,” she answered a bit nervously.
Not wanting to scare her, he took her smaller hand in his. “Women are incredibly scarce and the Grab criteria are very strict. To level the playing field they put certain rules in place.”
“What kind of rules?”
“Our mate bond isn’t fully legal until a period of thirty days has passed. At the end of thirty days we’ll sign another set of contracts affirming our intention to remain together. If another single man with enough points spots you outside my—our—quarters or if you’re without a proper escort, you can be taken.”
“Taken?” Her worried gaze darted to the door. Was she thinking of all the men roaming around the infirmary?
So much for not scaring her…
“It doesn’t happen very often but we’ve had a few cases where brides were snatched from their mates.”
“I see.” She bit her lip. “That must make for some awkward run-ins around the ship.”
“To say the least,” he said with a chuckle. “We’ve had population issues for quite a while now. There aren’t nearly enough women from our own planet to go around so the matchmaking services back on Prime are swamped and extremely expensive. They’re so far beyond what most of us soldiers and airmen can afford.”
“So that’s why you have the Grabs?”
“Partly,” he agreed. “They’ve been a tradition of ours for hundreds of years. When we were a conquering race we took brides from the native populations to cement treaties and build trust. Now it’s truly become a necessity. Even though your planet agreed to the Grab treaty, they’re being very stingy with the numbers of women they make available to us.”
She made a soft clicking sound, alerting him to her annoyance at something he’d said. “You make it sound like women are just lining up around the damn block to be chased and taken by a stranger. The numbers are small because the government doesn’t want to agitate the populace. The only women getting Grabbed are poor women. If you’ve got money or connections you can avoid the lottery. Unless you want more riots you guys are just going to have to practice a little patience and wait your turn.”
Dizzy’s fiery response left him speechless. In the short time he’d known her it was his first time seeing this passionate side to her—and it turned him on something fierce. “Do you know how pretty you are when your cheeks get all pink like that?”
She rolled her eyes and pinched his biceps. “Coming on to me doesn’t change the facts, Venom.”
“No,” he agreed with a smile, “but I was hoping it might distract you enough to let me sneak in another kiss.”
Her cheeks turned an even darker shade of that rosy hue. “You’ll have to find another tactic.”
“Sweetheart, that’s quite a challenge to issue to a master tactician.” He was still considering the myriad ways he might coax a kiss from those pouting lips of hers when she glanced around the room a little anxiously. “What’s wrong?”
She dropped her gaze to the thin sheet covering her. “Um…is there a bathroom nearby?”
He silently cursed himself for being so inconsiderate. “I’m sorry. I should have made sure you were comfortable before heading out to find dinner.” Jerking back the covers, he bent down to scoop her up but her hands flew to his chest in protest.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m taking you to the bathroom.”
“I can walk.”
“I know.” He cradled her slight weight in his arms and lifted her off the bed. She stiffened and gripped his shirt. “Easy, honey. I’m not going to drop you.”
“You don’t have to do this. I’m not an invalid. I can take myself to the bathroom.” Irritation made her voice sound harsh and tight.
“You were under anesthesia earlier today to treat a condition that made you dizzy and caused you to pass out. I’m not taking any more chances with you.” He hugged her a little tighter to his chest as he carried her across the room. “You’re mine to protect and care for now. I won’t have you falling and getting injured over something as silly as walking to the bathroom.”
She didn’t argue with him but those pursed lips of hers told him he was getting very close to crossing one of her lines. Inside the bathroom he slowly lowered her to the floor and kept an arm around her shoulders to steady her. When he started to lift the loose hospital gown, she grasped his wrist in a death grip. “Don’t even think about it, Venom.”
He met her angry gaze and was taken aback by the embarrassment reflected in her eyes. Not wanting to upset her even more he carefully stood to his full height. “I was only trying to help.”
Her grip on his wrist loosened. She ran her fingertips along his forearm in a soothing gesture. “I know, but I need some privacy.”
He didn’t understand why she found it so embarrassing to accept help from her mate when she was clearly still feeling the effects of the sedatives but decided not to push his luck. He started to tell her there wasn’t much that made him squeamish anymore, not after so many years on the front lines, but thought better of it. Something told him she wouldn’t find that comforting in the least.
Cupping her face, he said, “I’ll be right outside the door. When you’ve finished call for me and I’ll help you stand.”
After her silent nod he left the bathroom and shut the door. Leaning against it, Venom closed his eyes and felt the tension he had been carrying leave his body. Reassured that she would heal and recover, he could look forward to starting their new life together. Though he had expected to spend their first night as mates in much different surroundings, he decided that he could tamp down his desire and need for one more night. After all, he’d waited this long for a wife.
The muted sound of a high-powered flush followed by Dizzy’s shocked shriek jerked him right out of his thoughts. Spinning on his heel, he shoved the door aside and strode into the bathroom to find Dizzy hugging the far wall. She gnawed her plump bottom lip as the guilt of going against his orders played on her beautiful face. Apparently she hadn’t anticipated the automated system.
Crossing his arms, he sighed. “I thought I told you to call for me when you were done.”
“I didn’t want you to see me like that.”
He frowned at her with utter consternation. “Dizzy, I’m your mate. I’m supposed to care for you.”
She wrung her small hands. “And I’m seriously thrilled by the idea of having someone take care of me—but shouldn’t there be some mystery in a marriage? I really, really don’t think we need to get this close, you know?”
He snorted with amusement. “All right. I’ll let you have this one.” Crossing the room to retrieve her, he said, “When I give you an instruction in the future you need to follow it. I’m not the type to be bossy just because I feel like it. This new world of yours operates under different rules and I need to know you won’t accidentally get yourself hurt.”
Her expression turned serious. “I understand.”
“Good.” Scooping her up again, he carted her to the sink and set her down on her feet. He slipped one arm around her waist and braced her body with his even though it put him in an awkward position. When she didn’t move her hands toward the faucet, he realized she was looking for knobs. “It’s motion-activated.”