I groaned loudly.
“I just warped eighteen trillion miles through space to get here for this damn feast,” I grumbled. “Let me sleep some more, or you’ll be carrying me to it.”
Kol laughed merrily, and it only made me groan louder because I knew any chance of going back to sleep was well and truly off the table. I sighed as I rolled onto my back, shivering when my body touched a cold section of the mattress.
“Are you tired?” he asked softly.
“Uh-huh.” I rolled back over, coming face to face with him. “But so incredibly relaxed at the same time.”
Kol’s lips twitched as he reached up and pushed strands of hair from my face. His eyes scanned my face, and a soft glow formed around his irises. I sighed in appreciation but made sure I kept my gaze adverted so he wouldn’t see the reflection of the glow in my eyes.
“Nova,” he hummed.
I looked at his plump lips. “Yes?”
“You told me you loved me,” he whispered.
I blushed as I smiled. “I remember.”
He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Did you say it because of the amazing sex?”
“No.” I laughed. “I didn’t say it because of the uber-amazing sex.”
Kol smiled wide. “You said it because you truly love me?”
“Yes,” I said, reached up to cup his cheek with my hand. “I said it because I love you, sweetheart.”
His chest swelled, and I swear he was about to burst with how happy he felt, and that made me happy.
“You aren’t scared that you think it’s too fast?” he asked, worry laced in his tone. “I know you humans do things at a slower pace.”
I shrugged. “It’s not like I can control loving you. Every human person is different. No rules or time limit exist about falling in love with someone. I used to think time was a huge factor, but you have proven me wrong. I’ve known you seven days, and I am in love with you. Would some people find it insane, impossible, or completely stupid? Sure, but they aren’t a part of this relationship, so the opinions of sheep don’t matter.”
Kol pushed himself up, placed his right palm against the side of his face then rested his hand on it as his elbow pressed into the mattress, supporting him. He stared down at me with confusion.
“What are sheeps?”
“A sheep is an animal back on Earth. It can be used for food, and its fur can be used to make fabric. It is a sweet animal, very placid,” I said then grinned. “And it’s never sheeps, just sheep, even if you’re referring to more than one.”
“Oh,” Kol chirped. “Like Maji.”
“Huh?”
“Maji is used as a plural and singular when referring to the people.”
I nodded in understanding. “Yup, that’s exactly it. Sheep means one of the animal and many.”
“Then I agree with you; the opinions of sheep do not matter. I love you, and you love me, and that is all that matters.”
“You bet your ass it is.”
Deep laughter rumbled up Kol’s throat. “I want nothing more than to lie in our furs with you all day and night, but we must ready ourselves for the feast. It starts soon.”
I suddenly shot upright. “I don’t have anything to wear.”
“What?”
I looked down at my naked torso now that the furs had fallen away, and I groaned, loudly.
“You ripped my outfit from my body. Surkah made that to fit me especially, and you ripped it. Shit.”
“Do not fret,” Kol said as he sat upright and placed a kiss on my bare shoulder. “I contacted Surkah when I awoke and told her about your ruined clothing, so she made you a new one.”
“A new one?” I questioned, turning to look as he got out from under the fur blankets and stood from the bed, naked as the day he was born. “But she didn’t fit me for this new one.”
Kol snorted as he walked over to a large door and entered it. “Surkah has the memory of an Elder; she forgets nothing. And I mean it. She memorised your measurements and made you another ensemble based on that memory.”
Well, colour me impressed.
“Surkah is awesome.”
“What does aw-som mean?” Kol called from the room he entered.
I wondered what he was doing.
“Awesome means something that is really impressive.”
He snorted then. “Surkah will love that you think she is awesome then.”
He still didn't say awesome correctly, but I didn't mention it.
I grinned. “I’m sure she will.”
Kol re-entered the room, and to my disappointment, he was no longer naked. He had thick, gold, fitted bracelets around both of his wrists. Loose fitted bright blue pants that hung shockingly low on his hips but were cuffed tight around the ankles. He was in the middle of clipping small, shiny objects between the freshly braided pieces of hair on his head. They looked similar to the jewellery Surkah had in her hair when I first saw her without her Ebony attire on. I also noticed that his skin had more of a glow to it, too.
“Why does your skin look like that?” I questioned. “It didn’t have a radiance to it on the Ebony.”
“It’s Ealra.” Kol shrugged. “When we’re away from our planet, our appearance becomes a little dull. Spacecraft air is Maji-made, and our skin is a living breathing or
gan, so it suffers a little out in space, but when we return open, it can breathe easier. Does that make sense?”
“Yes,” I said. “Human skin is the same I guess.”
“My brothers who have been out in space the longest will look very sickly when they return, but once they are reintroduced to Ealra’s atmosphere, they will regain their healthy appearance.”
I focused on the scarred claw marks on his chest and swallowed.
“I shouldn’t find those scars as attractive as I do,” I muttered.
I flicked my eyes up to Kol and found him grinning. “Females of all species are impressed by strength, and that is what scars represent. They mean you survived whatever greatly hurt you at one point. They’re badges of honour that I carry with pride.”
I hummed. “You carry them very well.”
Kol shook his head, grinning. “Come. I have sent for servants to aid you in dressing.”
I froze. “I’m naked.”
“They’re female servants,” he said, an eyebrow raised. “No male would ever lay eyes upon your naked form, they know the penalty is death.”
I remained unmoving. “Kol, I was mortified when Surkah was dressing me … I’m not comfortable with being naked. Even right now, I’m embarrassed because we’re aren’t having sex.”
“Shall we have sex to take your embarrassment away?” he teased, but the flash of hunger in his eyes told me if I said yes, he would be on me in seconds.
“Nice try, buddy.” I roll my eyes. “But you’re the one you said we had to leave soon… isn’t that why you woke me?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “The feast begins in”—he closed his eyes for a moment then reopened them—“fifteen minutes.”
“Shit!” I panicked. “Where are the females who are going to help—”
A loud rap sounded on the door and cut me off midsentence.
“They’re here,” Kol said as he moved towards our bedroom door and opened it.
“Kol!” a female voice bellowed. “You’re going to be late to the feast for humans. Why did you not call me earlier?”
I widened my eyes when a tall female with blue skin entered the room, her hands on her hips and her eyes narrowed at Kol. She looked like she was in her late thirties, but I knew that meant she was a hell of a lot older in Maji years. She also wore a basic ensemble, not flashy like the one I previously wore, and she had no jewellery on, yet she still looked stunningly beautiful. Her fiery red hair only hung to her shoulders, but it was a thick mass of curls that made a statement all on their own.