Broken

.37.

"You could have been touched by thousands and it would not matter because I am the last of them. There will be no more after me, just like there would be no more women after you." He shook his head before kissing me, letting his lips linger on mine. "Do not think of this if it pains you to tears. Know that I want you no matter your past or who has touched you because they do not matter to me. You do." I frowned slightly as his tone turned more guttural and he paused in his speaking, his eyes darting back and forth as if searching for the right words to say. My eyes widened as it hit me that I wasn't wearing a translator.

"You're speaking English!" It was a quick exclamation and a slow smile crossed his face and seemed to light up his entire expression.

"I learned for you." He kissed my nose and let my chin go before he laid back down, dragging me down with him.

I didn't understand it. I couldn't believe he was actually speaking English. "But you... you were only gone for four months. I barely know any Orrian an-"

"You are doing very well with Orrian, Liviya. It is simply easier for an Orrian to learn English than for a human to learn Orrian." He resumed his stroking up and down my spine and I shivered under the touch. I was touched that he had learned English for me.

"How?" I didn't think any of his comrades would want him learning the half-breed language and he chuckled. It was a rich sound that made me shiver in delight to hear it.

"I transferred to an Orrian-Human combat unit. They taught me English." Pride coated his tone thickly and I felt a matching pride surge through me even as confusion warred with it heavily.

"You said that they don't do that anymore." He had. He had told me that humans and Orrians didn't mix anymore when it came to combat..

"Not on this ship and not with my original battalion. It was why I requested to be moved to a different one entirely." He smoothed his hand over my back and placed the other behind his head. "Those men we passed when I brought you home, they are part of my new battalion. They have all be stationed here under their own volition. We all wanted to be closer to the humans of our squad." He seemed much more relaxed and at ease. He didn't speak of his battalion with harsh sternness anymore and the way the men had cheered and smiled let me know that perhaps they were a lot closer than his previous one.

"Where are they?" I wondered where the humans were being held. I doubted Khos would allow them to stay on the ship.

"Still in training. They arrived two weeks late." He let out a small sigh and I rested my chin on his chest as I narrowed my eyes at him.

"About that. You came back early." He had come a whole week early. I wasn't complaining but I wondered how he had managed to do it.

"My battalion's bird was going to go up with an empty pod. I bribed my way onto it." He smirked down at me and I felt my cheeks flush under his rather intense look. "I could not stand spending one more day without you." I felt a lump appear in my throat and I nuzzled his chest, turning my face away from him so he couldn't see the tears that filled my eyes. He was so sweet sometimes and I was just an emotional mess.

There was a sudden banging on the front door that made me jump in fear. The banging was followed by the sound of raucous laughter on the other side. Rhex groaned heavily as someone shouted his name over the banging. He tightened his grip on me and buried his face in my hair. "If I ignore them. I think they will go away." The banging grew louder and I couldn't help the smile that spread out across my face.

"I think your friends want to see you." I stretched once more as Rhex got up. He looked down at me with a rather curious look on his face before he gave me a quick kiss.