Harry's Sacrifice, page 15
part #5 of Resonance Mates Series
“There are many humans in the Brotherhood. I was raised among them and fostered by two in particular that tried to teach me their ways. I didn’t understand them before, but now…” She trailed off as memories of her childhood ran through her mind. “They were such good parents. They tried so hard to show me love, and I couldn’t quite grasp it. I do now. And when this is all over, I want to take you to meet them. I think they will love you as I do.”
“You want me to meet your parents?” He seemed amused by the idea.
“My human parents. There are others as well, that I wish you to meet. Ronin Prime has always been a father figure to me. And one of the winged Brethren used to take me flying when I was very little. I want to share them with you and you with them. I want them to see our love and be happy for us, if they can.”
“That’s a tall order, Ro.” He leaned back against the heavy bag, folding his arms and watching her with what she thought might be a playful expression. Things were looking up.
“You’re a tall man,” she quipped. “I think you can handle it. Plus, I love you and I think you might feel the same. Of course, not being an empath, I can’t be sure, so you’ll have to tell me one of these days. I’m not rushing you, but I do at least want you to give us a chance. What do you say to that?” She smiled up at him, hoping he would respond in a positive way.
For reply, he opened his arms and reached out to her, folded her against his chest. He hugged her and lowered his head to nuzzle her, making her feel the most amazing joy in her heart. This was more than positive. This was fantastic!
“I think I…feel something for you too, Ro,” he whispered. “But I’m conflicted.”
She didn’t like hearing that but. Still, she knew he was having a hard time dealing with this situation, and she was at least succeeding in getting him to talk about it. That was good as far as she was concerned.
“You wanted a human mate,” she said, trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice. “I understand. But back in the days when our people believed in a deity, there was the notion that sometimes the benevolent power of the universe knows what we need better than we do ourselves. Perhaps this is one of those times. My human parents used to say God works in mysterious ways.” She rested her cheek against his shoulder, loving the feel of him holding her and being in his strong embrace. “And though I still look Alvian on the outside, I was raised differently than others of our race. I’ve always respected humans. I always liked them and learned from them when I was little. I didn’t always understand them, but that’s changing. I’ve changed. I’m no longer the cold, emotionless Alvian I once was. I think I can give you what you want in a mate, Harry, if you’ll give me the chance.”
“Oh, Ro…” His voice broke as he reached downward, finding her lips with his.
The kiss was emotional and tempestuous. It spoke of things he couldn’t say aloud. It spoke of love. And regret. And broken dreams. And new dreams.
It gave her hope. So much hope.
He took her down to the mats and she didn’t protest. Far from it. She wanted what he wanted in those moments of silent communication. His touch. His passion. The emotions that didn’t needs words to be expressed. Desire…and love. He hadn’t said it, but she thought she felt it in both his ardor and conversely in his gentleness. She didn’t think it was possible a man who didn’t care for her in some way could make her feel so special.
Maybe she was fooling herself, but then again, maybe not. Uncertainty was a constant now in her life, and rather than dwell in that confused state, she decided to live in the moment. In the passion. In Harry’s arms.
She helped him open her clothing until her legs were bare and he had clear access to all her most tender places. They didn’t bother pulling her top out from under her. It was open down the front, as was her bra. Her panties and pants had been kicked away so she could spread her legs around his hips, welcoming him.
She tugged at his waistband, helping him lower his pants and briefs so that his hard cock was exposed. He was ready for her and she did not object when he moved quickly, without much preamble. The time for delicacy would come later. Right at this moment, there was too much emotion between them to go slow. She sensed his need in his slightly trembling hands, in the harsh motions of his body. She didn’t need to wait. She wanted him as much, if not more, than he seemed to want her.
He joined their bodies in one smooth motion and then…all was right with the world.
Well, maybe not the whole world. There were still a lot of issues they had to address for humanity, and Hara’s existence could not be hidden forever, but those were unimportant for the sheer, blissful moments of their joining. All was right with her world. Hers and Harry’s.
And Cormac’s? She felt a niggle of doubt that he wasn’t part of this moment, but she pushed it aside. Cormac would have his time with her. Somehow they’d figure out how this threesome was going to work. But first, she had to get Harry to agree to it.
This was a first step. Letting him know he wasn’t as alone as he probably feared.
Roshin had come to understand fear and realized how it could drive someone to actions they otherwise might not consider. Fear could make people irrational. She’d known it from an outsider’s point of view as she’d been growing up in the Brotherhood, but now she understood those early lessons better than ever.
This, however, was not a time for fear. No, this was a time for love. Love and passion and unutterable pleasure. She knew from their previous encounters that Harry could bring that to her, but she wanted to give something to him this time. She wanted to give him an experience to remember.
She wanted to give him her heart.
He pumped into her, pounding hard as his ardor increased. She was breathless with need, but she wanted this time to be even more special. Roshin had to slow him down. She had to make him notice the momentous things that he could feel if he just extended his empathic senses the tiniest bit.
If she believed in a deity, she’d be praying right now. Hoping her instincts were correct. She really hoped this worked.
“Harry,” she whispered, breathless as he continued to thrust into her. She reached up to cup his cheeks in her hands, drawing his attention, and his gaze, to hers. His pace evened out, the urgency tempered with caution.
“Are you all right?” he seemed compelled to ask. “Am I too rough?”
“No, my love. You could never hurt me physically,” she managed to say on a gasp of breath. The feel of him inside her, rubbing her in all the right places, made it hard to talk, but these things had to be said. “I want you to open up to me. Empathically,” she clarified as he dug into her again. “I want you to feel what I’m feeling. I think you’ve been shielding too much and it’s hurting you.”
Harry’s eyes scrunched up as an amused smile played around the corners of his mouth. He seemed uncertain.
“How do you figure that? How do you even know I’m shielding?” His pace slowed to a gentle glide.
“I think I know you pretty well, Harry. The problem is you don’t know me. You don’t allow yourself to sense my feelings and know what’s in my heart. I think you’re afraid.” She whispered it, not wanting to hurt his feelings or challenge his manhood, but needing to spur him to action. He had to lower his empathic shields.
He stopped altogether. His cock a warm rod within her, heating her from the inside out. She wanted him to continue moving, but this was even more important than the aching need that begged for completion.
“Afraid?”
“Yes. Afraid to know what I really feel. Afraid you’re wrong about my emotional response. Or maybe afraid you’re right? Either way, wouldn’t it be better to know the truth of it? It’s so easy for one of your abilities. All you have to do is open up your empathic sense and find out.” She reached up to kiss his lips gently, just a quick nibble. “If you dare.”
She rested her head back on the mat and watched him, knowing the moment when he came to a decision. She saw it in his eyes. Yet he still hesitated.
“Come on, lover. You can do it,” she encouraged in a hushed whisper.
His eyes dilated the slightest bit, and then she saw something in his expression change. His beloved face tensed, as did his muscled shoulders above her. A split second later, he seemed to relax and then he started moving again within her, his gaze holding hers with an intensity she had never experienced from him before.
He pushed into her welcoming body, fucking her hard and fast, as if no time had lapsed between their earlier frenzy and the present moment. If anything, he was even more frenzied than before.
Harry lowered over her straining body as the climax came close. It was almost upon her when she heard the barest whisper of sound from his lips as his gaze held hers.
“I love you, Ro.”
Her heart blossomed as love poured out. Those simple words were her every dream come true and gave her the security to bask in the deep and true feelings in her heart.
“I love you, Harry. Oh, how I love you!” She screamed his name as she came with him, both of them climaxing hard, together. Two hearts beating as one. Two souls twining together, never to be parted.
She loved the feel of him coming hard inside her body. She was burning up, taking all he could give and giving it back as best she was able.
His love was a miracle, and the emotional part of her that was just discovering the wonder of it wanted to dance and sing with joy. But the orgasm her lover had given her with such reckless abandon left her body wrung out. Blissfully, happily exhausted.
Harry collapsed on top of her, breathing hard as he clutched her to him. She felt wetness on her skin and realized he’d been moved to tears. It was a poignant moment that she would never mention but would always hold close to her heart.
“I love you, Harry O’Hara,” she whispered in his ear as their bodies trembled in time in the aftermath. “And if you think I’ll ever let you go, you’ve got another think coming.”
She felt his chuckle in the shaking of his shoulders, and when he lifted his head to meet her gaze, she fell in love all over again with the smile on his face.
“Now that’s a human expression if I’ve ever heard one.”
“I told you my foster parents were human.” She wasn’t sure if he was amused or concerned about her slip into the human lingo she’d been raised with. She had to be careful around the Alvians she’d been sent to work with. Such casual use of human language would raise eyebrows. But with Harry, she could be herself. Couldn’t she?
“I was just thinking how wrong I was,” he was quick to reassure her, his tone kind and filled with wonder. “I thought the only way I could have the emotions you just shared with me was if I had a human mate.” He reached up to stroke her hair gently away from her face. He was so tender that it touched her deeply, but she needed further clarification.
“And now?” she prompted.
“And now I’m willing to admit that maybe I’m not infallible. But if you repeat that, I’ll deny it,” he teased, the smile that lit his handsome face making her join in. Joy filled her heart and she leaned up to kiss him gently. “I’m not one hundred percent sure of any of this, but I guess I’ll just have to see where it leads. I can’t deny I want you, Ro. I don’t know how I feel about the future. So much is up in the air right now. I don’t know what to think beyond just the next few minutes. I hope you can live with that while I figure it out.”
“I’ll try. And I’m glad you are willing to try. I don’t think I can live without you now, now that I’ve found you.”
Harry rolled over on the mats, taking her with him, snuggling her against his chest.
“I’ve never known exactly what the future holds for me, sweetheart, but I’m willing to see where this leads us. I’m glad you dared me to search your feelings. If you’re willing to overlook the fact that I’m far from perfect and tend to be temperamental, I’m willing to try.” His words still hedged, but she could work with them. At least he wasn’t running in the opposite direction anymore.
“Okay, Harry. Let’s take it slow and see where this leads.” And she’d pray to every old deity she could uncover that it would lead to a permanent union.
Chapter Ten
Harry felt calmer about his personal situation after his little talk with Roshin in the gym. Cormac found them, still entwined, about a half hour later, warning them that the pod would be lifting off as soon as darkness fell.
Harry noticed the way Cormac’s fists tightened and jealousy rolled off him in waves when he found them together. Harry wasn’t too proud to admit he felt smug lying there with Ro in his arms.
But now that Harry’s empathic senses were open wider, he was feeling all sorts of nuances from both Alvians that he’d missed before. Cormac was angry, yes, but he also felt envy and a stirring desire for a repeat of the threesome they’d shared the night before. Cormac wanted to watch. He wanted all three of them together. He didn’t seem interested in simply stealing Roshin away for himself.
Now wasn’t that an interesting thought? Roshin wanted both men. She’d made that clear. Now Cormac seemed to want the threesome as well. It was Harry who had to adjust his thinking here. And he needed time to do it. He wasn’t as able to turn on a dime as these aliens, and that thought impressed him by its absurdity.
Those who had only just gotten emotions were proving better able to adjust than Harry, who’d struggled with emotion his entire life. Now wasn’t that ironic?
“Percival asked me to find you both,” Cormac said haltingly, with a bit more force that the occasion demanded. “The ancients want to brief us on their plan. Meet in the galley in ten minutes.” He turned on his heel and left without another word, and Harry had to stifle a chuckle.
“Cormac isn’t too happy with us right now, little Ro,” he observed, sitting up and taking her with him.
He tried to help her readjust her clothing, but her top was a tangled mess around her arms. By comparison, Harry only had to pull up his pants to be mostly respectable. They had to go in search of Roshin’s pants. Somehow, they’d ended up flung across a piece of equipment a few yards away. Harry had to chuckle at that too.
With his new discovery of Ro’s deep emotions, he found a lot of joy in simple things, like how far gone they’d both been in the heat of the moment. He helped her get dressed and they left the gym together. She took a few moments to use the lav while he sat down in the galley across from Cormac. The ancients weren’t there yet and the silence stretched.
Finally, Harry had enough and offered the proverbial olive branch.
“I won’t say I’m sorry for spending alone time with Ro. If we do end up sharing her as our mate, that’s something we’ll both have to get used to, I guess.”
Cormac looked thoughtful rather than angry at Harry’s words and he seemed to think about it before answering.
“Your sister has such an arrangement. Is that how it works for them?”
“Honestly, I have no idea how they work things. Their private lives are their business and not something I ever wanted to know too much about. I would think though, that each of us has to find what works best for our own lives. In my case, that means from time to time I’d like to be with Roshin alone. The threesome was fun. Mind blowing, in fact. But every once in a while the deeper connection of one-on-one is nice too.”
“I can understand that, I guess,” Cormac allowed. “We will all have to make adjustments to our thinking if this relationship is to proceed.”
“Do you want it to?” Harry asked baldly. Cormac’s emotions weren’t as fully developed as Roshin’s, though he was coming along nicely.
“Yes,” he answered solidly, and Harry could feel the conviction behind his words. “I believe Roshin is my true Resonance Mate. I also believe she is yours as well. More than that, I see how you make her happy and I would not deny her that. Although it will be difficult to adjust to this concept, I will do my best to try. To make her happy. Her happiness is important to me.” Cormac sounded as if he was just realizing the truth of his words as he articulated them.
Something was happening here. Cormac was evolving right before Harry’s eyes. Learning to put the one he loved before himself. If that wasn’t an example of his profound character, Harry didn’t know what was. Respect for the other man took root in Harry’s mind. That was a good thing. A good basis on which to start.
“All right then,” Harry said, feeling something shift within him. “We will give it a try and see how it goes.”
“That’s what I like to hear.” Hara’s voice boomed from the doorway as he entered, followed closely by Percival. “Glad you’re giving this a chance, Harry.” Roshin came in from the other side of the galley a few seconds later.
Harry chose not to reply as everyone settled around the table. The two ancients had brought a display with them that when placed in the center of the table and activated, showed a holographic map of the area.
“According to the measurements provided to Cormac from his dig team, we are now clear of ice from above. That’s enough to get us out of this hole and into the air,” Hara reported. “We’ve checked the engines and they’re good to go. What I propose is this…”
He touched a control that made the hologram shift, showing the path of the pod as it rose out of the hole and then zooming out to display a map of the world. The pod slipped from up near the North Pole to the Northern City in a quick arc, coming to rest on the pad nearest the Council Chambers.
“Going straight for the kill, I see,” Harry commented.
“Kill?” Cormac sounded concerned.
“It’s a human expression. Meaning you’re going direct to the source,” Harry explained.
He sensed there would be a lot of explaining should this threesome continue. Silently, he prayed for strength. Life would be so much easier with a human mate. There wouldn’t be Cormac to contend with or any need to educate in the ways of emotion and human slang. But then there wouldn’t be Ro either. That thought made Harry pause in his self-pity party.
