"So you're going to beat Ak's meat?" she repeated with a grin.

"I suppose," Vrox shrugged.

She guffawed unattractively. She was sure that she looked like a mess with her hair plastered all over her face, her naked breasts jiggling with every laugh that racked her, and her mouth wide open.

Through her teary mirth, she saw Vrox looking at her the same way she stared at Vee. He adored her– awkward laugh and all.

"What is so amusing? I have not jested."

"You– you said you were going to beat Ak's meat!"

Vrox crooked his head. "Yes. Do Terrans find brutality amusing?"

He didn't understand what was so funny about the idea of him beating his brother up. Kira, as devastatingly female, intelligent, and endearing as she was, sometimes said things that left him scratching his head.

Kira was still giggling as she laid back on the water and floated. Vrox hovered over her, watching the precious sight of water dipping between the valley of her breasts, leaving her dusty peaks for his irises to devour.

"Float next to me," she requested.

"No, thank you," he declined, dropping his gaze to the small island between her legs. "I am fine standing."

"Come on," she chuckled.

He raised a hand from the water and tenderly skimmed his fingers over her belly, trying to be careful with his claws. Kira's belly was flat, not pudgy like her behind. Vrox didn't discriminate, though. He liked both parts equally.

Every inch of the Terran was a sight to behold. The fates must have scouted the stars for eons, looking for the inspiration needed to craft a creature as fine as her.

Eyes the color of the earth, body gently curved like the waves of Ezron's oceans. Her face was rounded like the moon, but behind her face rested hundreds of planets of knowledge.

There was more to Kira than an appealing surface. Like the lake they were currently basking in, she was deep.

"You okay?"

He smiled down at her before ducking his head and sucking the small pool that had formed in her belly button.

She gasped.

"I am now," he grinned and then laid down to float beside her.

"It's kinda weird knowing that I'm not a citizen of this sky," she mused, staring at the blue.

"You are not its citizen, yes, but you will rule beside it."

This had her moving her eyes to him.

Many times, she had wondered if Vrox had plans to reconstruct Ezron's government. As the only father on the planet, he had the strongest claim on the throne. He wasn't the firstborn, though. Akdronis was the eldest, followed by Ni'ev and finally Vrox.

Would Ak be interested in the throne? So far, he couldn't offer Ezron an heir since his relationship with Nebula was rocky. What would happen if he somehow managed to steal her heart and was gifted fatherhood?

"To rule beside the sky?" she echoed.

"Yes."

"You will rule too, then? But under who?"

"I do not care," Vrox replied. "I do not care if I am the one leading, or following one of my brothers. I can do both efficiently."

She expected nothing less. Vrox wasn't greedy, but he wasn't neglectful either. He was an honorable brother and lover. She was sure that he would be a great father as well.

– • –

When they returned to camp, she went to the blacksmithing area and fussed around with the mini refrigerator Vrox made for her. She needed time to think, and she did her best thinking when she engineered.

She smeared the black substance over the metal, coating every inch. Vrox had assured that this liquid turned cold once exposed to sunlight, and she was ready to test its effects.

Vee lounged in the fireplace as she distributed the coating.

What did she feel for Vrox? Was it more than lust? More than a crush? Was it even possible to fall in love within a few months? Sadly, there was no when to fall in love manual. Even if there was, she would need a post-apocalyptic version. Ezron wasn't Earth. It offered no distractions from their problems– no vacation, therapy, or cellphones. They had no option but to face the dangers that came her way. Every time they did, their bond became stronger.

Vrox was easy to love, too. Granted, he struggled with unhealthy possessiveness– being irrationally jealous of his brothers and not trusting her ability to make her own decisions. They could work on that, though. Kira had her own flaws as well, but they could do great things together.

Wasn't that what love was about? Finding someone to grow with, to entrust your life in, to laugh with?

Once she was done with the fridge, she tugged a cloak on to hide her figure. The long cloth suffocated her, but she promised Vrox that she wouldn't walk around camp without it. He was concerned that someone would peer past the perimeter and spot her, so she wanted to ease his worrying.

She struggled to drag the fridge. Once outside, clanks and thuds became louder. She stopped her struggles to observe the scene of Vrox sparring with Rokan.

Who said that a man in a skirt wasn't sexy?

Vrox looked downright lickable as he parried and attacked his opponent, his thick thighs tensing as they executed his quick steps. Pure liquid masculinity rained down his chest, and his arms looked deadlier than the sword they were wielding.

He slashed, cleaved, then flourished with the precision of a rattlesnake. Rokan held his ground but had to take a few steps back to absorb the fury of the Ezronian prince.

The male that had caressed her belly with a ghostly touch in the lake was now a calloused wrath.

Kira took a step forward and became aware of the slick between her legs. Only Vrox could do this to her. Only he could melt her heart and vagina.

He looked over at her, tossing a lopsided grin before blocking Rokan's attack and continuing his sparring.

She shook her head. "Let's go, Vee. I think I saw some nuts in the fields."

Vee gave her a look that seemed suspiciously accusative.

"You little perv! I meant edible nuts! Not that Vrox's nuts aren't edible, but–"

"Kira?" Ni'ev asked, appearing beside her.

She reached down, snatched Vee, and then ran for her dignity. After feeding Vee some nuts– tree nuts– she spent another hour observing the refrigerator. The coating had begun to cool at drastic rates, and the vault frosted.

When the sun began to dip, the guys started the bonfire and ate dinner around the flame. They ate the meat raw as always, but it no longer bothered her as it used to.

How much time had passed since she fell on Ezron? It had to be at least a month now.

She eyed Vrox, watching him throw his head back and laugh at Kyros' comment. Thin lines appeared on his face, reflecting his youth. Everything about him was in its prime– his prowess, his endurance.

He noticed her attention. With a smile, he picked up some lu fruit from a basket and offered it.

He was a paradox– innocent yet mature.

She grabbed his wrist but was unable to circle its thickness.

"Let's go to bed," she suggested.

Vrox picked up Vee by the ears, forgetting that she cringed every time she grabbed the pet that way. Vee never cried with complaint, but she still worried.

His free hand rested on the small of her back absentmindedly as he guided them indoors. Once home, he dropped Vee in his cot beside the bed before palming her waist and seating her on the furs.

He stripped down, stretched, and then joined her on the bed. Although he was very observant, he didn't seem to notice her heated stare.

He laid beside her, and she waited for him to reach for her as he always did. He only lasted ten seconds before lying on his side and dragging her against him.

She smiled at his predictability.

His hand rested on her hip, his nose in her hair. "Remind me to braid your hair tomorrow, yes?"

She shivered when his thick rumble massaged her back. "Hey," she whispered, spinning in his embrace to face him.

"I still do not know what this E-leash word means."

"Nevermind that. I..."

"Yes?" he encouraged.

She inhaled.

"I want you to make love to me, Vrox. I'm ready."

He was silent, and she hated the darkness for hiding his expression.

"Make love to you?" he echoed.

"Yeah," she answered, her open palm pressing over his heart.

"Is this a type of food?"

She took his hand from her hip, and directed it to her stomach.

"Here."

"Ah," he nodded, brushing her dress-covered stomach. "So it is a style of clothing?"

"No," she answered. "It's... mating. I want you, uh, inside there, and I want you, well, to leave a baby behind."

She was a muttering, blabbering mess. Who knew that politely requesting a man to impregnate you could be so nerve-wracking?