Grady's Awakening by Bianca D'Arc

home and pumping for what seemed hours, making her come over and over before finding his own pleasure in her body. He encouraged her to be creative and she rode him during one of their more memorable climaxes, bouncing hard against his thighs, shouting her delight to the moon.
    They lay together deep in the night and slept in each other’s arms. When the sunlight roused them, Grady took her again, loving her slow and long, drawing out the pleasure, to hold against the future when they would be parted.
    As they dressed and packed up, Gina felt sad. She’d only just found this wonderful man and within hours, she’d be leaving, perhaps never to see him again.
    “What’s wrong?” Grady Prime was observant, she’d give him that. For all that he was new to having and interpreting emotions, he was getting very good at it.
    “Just thinking about things I can’t change.” She tried to put a brave face on it, but apparently failed when he drew closer, pulling her into a loose embrace. His eyes, when she met them, were filled with determination.
    “I will find you again, Gina. I will come for you, no matter where you are or what you are doing. You’re mine.” His possessive words shocked her. “I’ll give you some time to get used to the idea, but remember this—I have never failed to track down a target and you just rose to the top of my list.”
    “I’m not your enemy, Grady.” She made a small attempt at humor though her heart was in turmoil.
    His lips brushed lightly over hers, and she struggled to focus.
    “Never that, little one. But I will be your mate. Mark my words and do not forget me while you pursue your duty. As soon as I am free to do so and you have had time to come to terms with my claim, I’ll come for you, Gina. Even the Patriarch cannot stand in the way of true mates. It is our oldest and most sacred law.”
    “You believe so strongly that I’m your mate? How can you know this soon?”
    “My race has done it this way for centuries. A Hum, a Kiss, an Embrace. That’s all we need to recognize our perfect mate. I believe in my heart that you’re it for me, Gina.” He released her fully, though his gaze stayed locked with hers. “We will do the tests so you can see the proof, when I return. For now, think of me as you go about your mission. I’ll most certainly be thinking of you.”
     
     

Chapter Five
    There was no one in her life that Gina respected more than the Zxerah Patriarch. He’d taken her in and given her a home when all she’d ever known had been destroyed. He and his followers had protected her when she could no longer protect herself. She owed him. But more than that, she loved him like the family she’d lost. He was part father, part protective brother at times, and he made her feel secure. It was unfortunate that he could never return the sentiment.
    He was Alvian and therefore emotionless. Even the Zxerah had embraced the genetic alterations that had changed the rest of the Alvian population from almost ferally aggressive to completely unemotional in a matter of a few generations. The Zxerah had rushed to embrace the genetic changes that they now realized were detrimental to the further existence and evolution of the Alvian race. Now the Zxerah embraced a new strategy. They worked behind the scenes—as they always had in Alvian society—for change. Big change.
    And Gina was going to be instrumental in the first steps of that change. Or so she had been informed by the Patriarch. He’d come to her weeks ago with a mission she was loath to reject. In fact, she relished the idea of being among the first to set the wheels in motion that could save both their races—Alvian and human alike.
    “Your skills and your temperament are perfect for this mission, Gina. And Eve says too, it must be you, though I would have chosen you for your skill even without her input.” The Patriarch had given her a smile, though it lacked true emotion. He’d once explained he felt echoes of