Tempest had a hard time sleeping the night before.

Both she and Dron agreed that if they were going to town, it would be better if they gave everyone some time to get over the mess that had happened the night before.

It would be a fresh start for the next day.

That was all good and well except Tempest couldn’t stop thinking about what happened last night.

Not the fight.

What happened before.

She was so ready to have sex with Dron. All he had to do was apply a little pressure, and she would’ve folded like a deck of wet cards.

She was ashamed. Not only that, she didn’t understand why she was so willing to give up on her lifelong moral choices for a man she barely knew.

It wasn’t like Tempest was in love with Dron or anything like that. She empathized with his loneliness. She felt bad that he was caught up in this mess with her. She craved the attention and effort he seemed to give to her at every turn. But none of that equaled love.

Right?

Every time she closed her eyes, it was as if she could feel Dron’s hands on her body all over again. Her desire for him revved into overdrive as she remembered the way he moaned and whispered in her ear. The way it seemed like just being with him in that small way was enough to make every last one of his dreams come true.

No matter what he tried to make her believe, Tempest knew he felt something for her. It wasn’t all hate and contract marriage. There was something deeper lurking inside Dron.

It was something that Tempest knew she couldn’t dig up. Not when she was so set on leaving. It wouldn’t be fair to him. It wouldn’t be fair to her. To start something that neither of them would be able to see through.

No, it would be better if she just tried to forget anything that happened the night before. She wouldn’t let it happen again. That was for sure. She’d do everything in her power to keep from being tempted again. It was easier said than done.

Tempest got out of bed in a horrible mood. She didn’t know if it was because she was so tired or because she wasn’t truly looking forward to being on display yet again, but she was a cranky woman.

"You need to eat something before we head off." Dron spoke from where he was sitting in the cooking area.

"I’m not hungry." Tempest grumbled back.

"Are you sure? You didn’t eat much last night. I could make something for you really quick."

"I said I’m fine." Tempest snapped at him.

Dron clenched his jaw tight and simply glared at Tempest as if he were unsure of what to say next.

Tempest knew that she was being unreasonable. She took a deep breath. It wasn’t as if he had control over her dreams. "Sorry, I’m cranky. Maybe just something to drink?" Tempest stepped closer to him.

"Cranky?" Dron tilted his head, "Why are you in a foul mood?"

"I didn’t sleep very well."

"Is the bed not to your liking? I can have another brought here for you."

Tempest that he was so ready to give her anything that she wanted or needed. It made avoiding what she was feeling for him much more difficult. "It’s not that. The bed is perfect. I guess there was just a lot going on yesterday. My mind wouldn’t shut off."

Dron nodded his head as if he could understand what she was talking about. She wondered if he had a hard time going to sleep too. Was he as tormented by what happened between them as she was? It didn’t seem like he was. In fact, he hadn’t said anything about what almost happened between them at all.

"We could always put off our plan to visit the town for another day. There’s no rush." Dron shrugged his shoulder.

"No, we have to do this today before any of the rumors start to take root. If we let this lie for too long who knows what those people who attacked us are going to go around telling people. Before long people are going to start believing that you lured those guys to your property because you are some sort of monster."

Dron scoffed. "That’s more accurate than you would think. You’d be surprised how many things I’ve managed to do without actually doing anything, according to the people in the town."

"Exactly, we can’t let them do that. I’ll be fine. I just want to get this over with." She pulled the chair back and plopped down in front of the large island-like table.

Dron turned his back to her as he began preparing what Tempest hoped was a steaming cup of coffee. She didn’t have much hope, but it was fun to dream about.

She watched Dron in silence. There was something different about him this morning. Like he was less tense. Usually anytime Tempest was in a room with him, there was a strong air of tension around him. Either because he thought she was judging him or because he thought there was danger, but this morning it seemed as if Dron was at ease.

"You must have had a good night."

"Yes. I did." Dron answered without turning around.

"Oh, good dreams?" Tempest pressed. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"Not necessarily, I’ve come to a decision. It’s a weight off my mind." Dron turned and gave her one of her new devastating smirks.

"What decision was that exactly?" Tempest couldn’t help but continue the conversation. She wanted to know what he could have been thinking about that would make him this light. She wanted some of that.

"I’ve decided that it truly doesn’t matter why you were put here or how long you’re going to be here. As long as you want to be here and you are meant to be mine, I’ll accept it. I’ve been fighting your presence from the moment they told me I was to have a mate. I don’t want to fight it anymore. This might be the only time I ever get to experience something like this. I want to make the best of it."

Tempest nearly emitted an audible aww. It was as sweet as anything she’d ever heard.

"I want to make the best of this with you too," Tempest offered.

Dron nodded before turning back to continue making her drink.

A second later, a strong and familiar scent wafted in the air.

"What is that?" Tempest leaned forward. It couldn’t be.

Slowly, Dron turned and placed a steaming cup of dark brown liquid in front of her.

"No way! That’s not possible." Tempest snatched the cup, ignoring the burning hot cup.

"I hope I made it to your liking." Dron offered, crossing his arms over his chest.

Tempest inhaled deeply and nearly cried, before she took a deep sip. She knew it was impossible, but as the liquid coated her tongue, she knew exactly what it was. "This is coffee! How did you get coffee?"

Dron smiled softly at her. "You like it then?"

"Oh god....mmmm" She moaned nearly sexually as she sipped at the cup again.

Dron chuckled and turned to clean up the items he used to make the cup of joe.

"How did you get this?" Tempest asked again after her brain finally got over the fact that she had access to this life saving liquid.

"I met someone in the military town when I went on my...patrol," he hedged, "He is one of the few people who are able to get things from Earth. I’m not sure what means he uses, but he is very interested in your culture. He’s been planting various seeds. One of them was this. He said they don’t grow well on this planet but was able to harvest this. He roasted them, and the result was these seeds. He said I’d have to crush them and then pour hot water through them. I tried several times last night. I’m not sure I got the recipe correct."

"You nailed it." Tempest quickly eased his worries.

It was a little more bitter than she was used to, but there was no way that she was going to complain about it. She’d drink her coffee like this for as long as she had to.

"I don’t think I have enough to make this every day that you plan to be here, though. Clik was only able to grow and harvest a few plants."

That was disappointing, but something was better than nothing. "Got it. This is a treat."

Dron nodded. They stayed there in silence, while Tempest enjoyed her coffee. When it was over, there was only one thing left for her to do. Get ready for the day.

"I’m going to shower and get dressed. Are you ready for this?" Tempest questioned as she slid off the chair.

"I will be." Dron nodded once. It was the best she’d be able to get out of him.

Tempest turned and walked into her room. Squab was still sleeping on her bed. For an animal who had so much energy just a few hours prior, it was almost concerning to see that he slept for so long. Still, Tempest was grateful. She hoped he stayed asleep while she was out of the house.

Tempest walked into the large bathroom and turned on the shower. The water smelled funny. Not bad, more like it was filtered through flowers.

She stripped the few pieces of clothing that she had on off and stepped into the warm stream of water. She moaned as the drops pelted her skin.

The sudden pressure forced her mind to rehash the last time she’d felt anything on her body this pleasureable.

Dron’s hands.

She had to get last night out of her mind. Had to forget that it happened in the first place. It was the first step. The first step that she just couldn’t take.

Her mind replayed every touch. The way he took to kissing her. How it seemed as if she was going to cut off his air supply if she moved away from him. They were so connected. So in sync. Tempest had never felt anything like that. Never had a man turn her on so completely.

She squeezed her legs together, trying to ignore the pressure that was growing in the pit of her stomach. A pressure that pulsed with every second she continued to remember what happened the night before.

She tried to focus on washing her body. Her hands skimming over her skin. Soon the motions became slower. Her fingers tracing the path of Dron’s.

Her breasts felt heavy as she panted and softly moaned with her eyes closed.

She trailed her hands over her lips and then her neck. Her breath hitched when her hand cupped the underside of her breast and gave a soft squeeze. She wondered what Dron’s hands would feel like here. Would he be as gentle as she knew he could be, or would he be a little rough, possessive of her body.

Tempest couldn’t decide what she wanted more.

Her fingers continued to trail down her body, their destination no longer a mystery to her. She slowly let her fingers push below her waist. Her core was bare of any hair and made it easier for her to locate the slick bundle of nerves between her legs.

She gasped as she applied a little pressure. Before she had a chance to think too much about it she began to massage and swipe at the bundle.

Dron’s face and words flashed like a strobe light in her mind. She wanted him so bad. Wanted more of what she was trying to deny happened last night.

This would be the last time she would think about it. She promised herself.

This had to be it.

Her fingers moved faster and faster. Her arousal coated her inner thighs. She was so slick, and she couldn’t understand why. It wasn’t as if she’d ever had a problem getting wet before, but the amount she seemed to be producing surprised her. There was no one that she could talk to about it.

Not that she wanted to talk to anyone right now. All she wanted was to feel her body flying in ecstasy.

It didn’t take long. Not with Dron on her mind.

Tempest braced herself against the wall of the showers and bit the inner corner of her lip to keep herself from screaming out in pleasure.

Wave after wave hit her. They were intense, but it was nothing like what she felt with Dron. She had a nagging suspicion that she would never have an orgasm like that again.

Not for as long as she lived.