Love Me

Elizabeth Knight

Chapter 13

Rain tapped upon the roof in a lulling rhythm as Kyle lay in bed with Bra snuggled up under his chin. He felt too restless to sleep, but he was too comfortable to get up. He didn't want to leave Bra anyway, but he thought it best before he woke her up to make love to her again. It had been like nothing he'd ever experienced before. He'd gone as slow as possible but perhaps not slow enough. Bra hadn't complained any though. Kyle smiled up at the ceiling, softly stroking Bra's hair. He was so lost in thought it took a moment for the light tickling sensation of Bra's eye lashes sweeping across his chest to register.

"Kyle? Are you awake?"

"I'm awake, sueka."

"What are you thinking of?" she ask, pushing up on one elbow to look down at him.

"You."

"What about me?"

"You ask to many questions, sueka. Lay back down and enjoy this moment with me."

"I enjoy every moment with you Kyle. Come on. I'm to rested to lay back down." Bra said pulling on Kyle's arm as she sat up. He watched her climb out of his bed and into the darkness.

"Sueka, what are you up to?"

"Come with me!" Bra coaxed.

Kyle threw back the furs and climbed out of the bed. He started to walk over to her when she took off out of the room. He stood there dumb founded for a second before he followed her out of the room. "Sueka, what are you doing?"

Bra had thrown on one of his never used shirts and giggled as she ducked out the front hide door. Grabbing on a pair of his hide leggings he ducked out the door as well.

"Come with me." she whispered to him, beckoning him forward.

He followed her down the ladder and chased her across the empty meadow below. Her laughter filled his ears as the sight of her smiling face glistening with rain drops imprinted it's image upon his memory. He'd never forget the sight of her twirling around in the rain, head upturned and mouth opened. Rain poured down upon the two of them and splashed under their feet as Kyle twirled her into his arms for the dance he'd left unfinished.

Bra squealed as Kyle lifted her far into the air and twirled them in small circles before sliding her down the length of his body. She grabbed his shoulders to prevent herself from sliding any further from his face and he tightened his grip on her to keep her nose to nose with him. She pushed back the hair that had plastered itself to his face and softly kissed his lips as the rain ran down between their melded faces.

"Make love to me again, Kyle."

"My pleasure."

***********

Bra dipped a cool cloth into the bowl of water Kyle had brought her and rung it out before placing it on Zantha's slightly feverish forehead. She hoped Zantha would wake up soon. It was beginning to frighten her. And where was her brother? She didn't really want to think about it, but she knew some time her brother and father would come. She would have to figure out what she was going to do about them.

Bra looked down when she heard the slight moan from the bed. Placing the cool rag back on Zantha's head she comforted her. "Everything's going to be ok now."

Zantha's forehead furrowed as she listened to Bra, and Bra sighed in relief. It was a good thing that Zantha was finally responding. Now she'd wake up hopefully.

"Where am I?" she ask, sitting up then grabbing her head. Bra placed a hand on her shoulder and pushed her back down to the pillows. Zantha cracked her eyes and Bra smiled down at her. "What are you doing here. How long have we been here?"

"Shhh. Don't talk. Your not out of the this mess yet." Bra informed her as Kyle came up behind her to look down at his sister.

"She shouldn't be here Kyle. Why did you bring her here? Vegeta and Trunks will come after us now." Bra flinched from Zantha's obvious anger.

"Don't fool yourself, Zantha. Trunks would come anyway to claim you. The only difference now is that he won't be coming alone." Kyle told her.

"Then take her back, Kyle. Our peoples' lives are in danger. Trunks and Vegeta will tear this village out from under us to get her back. You can't start a war over her, Kyle."

"I can't take her back. Besides, it's already too late. You've been out long enough for them to have had plenty of time to find us." Kyle said.

"It's never to late to take her back. You can end this before it begins."

"I'm not taking her back, Zantha. We'll find another way to keep this form blowing up."

"Why are you so intent on destroying us?" Zantha wailed in despair as she looked at the two of them, together.

Bra knew Kyle had to tell his sister about them, but it was no less embarrassing considering Zantha wasn't happy with this idea. "I can't give her back now, Zantha. She's my mate. I've petitioned the council for their acceptance of my choice. If they accept, everyone else will have to follow their lead, and we'll live here among my people."

"And if they don't?" Zantha ask.

"They will." Kyle growled at her, "They owe me!"

Everyone turned to look at the door way of Zantha's room as RepSarah and a small party entered. "The scouting party we sent out to cover our tracks has returned. It's nice to see your finally awake. Trunks is on his way with a small army led by his father. It doesn't look like they took to kindly to you running off with one of their kind, Kyle."

"I had no choice in the matter!" Kyle told RepSarah. Bra bit her lip and lowered her head. She hadn't wanted to bring along any troubles. She hadn't meant to force Kyle into bringing her here. It wasn't as if she had meant to get trapped in that flaming cell on purpose. Bra let Kyle lift her face to look into his own. "It's not your fault." He told her encouragingly, adding a kiss for good measure.

"It might be best on everyone if we weren't here when they arrived, Zantha. It would give them one less reason to attack your village. If we leave now we should have a day or two head start on them. That will give us some time to cover our tracks so we won't be found." RepSarah suggested. She looked at Zantha, waiting for her answer.

Zantha seemed to think it over before glancing over at Bra. Bra knew what she was wondering, but Bra couldn't give her the answer she wanted. "I know my brother doesn't always act like it, but I know he's in love with you. I can't promise your safety if you go back with him though. After what my father did, and your imprisonment, it would make it hard to want to go back. If you were here, Trunks might not let you decide. The choice is yours."

Zantha sat up with the help of the others. "Alright, I'll go."

"Isaru, come help." RepSarah called over to Isaru and Jonathen, still standing in the doorway.

"Can you walk?" Jonathen ask her.

"I don't know, but I'm going to try. I think I'll make it with a little help." She told Isaru and Jonathen as they helped her back up off the floor.

RepSarah gave Kyle and Bra a wink as she followed the others out the door to leave. Bra smiled at her and looked up at Kyle. He hadn't moved from his protective stance behind her. "I'm sorry I've been the cause of so much trouble to you. I didn't mean for anything bad to come from this, Kyle."

He looked down at her strangely. "Exactly what are you considering to be bad that has come from this?"

Bra jabbed him in the ribs as she said, "I didn't mean that, sueke. Being your mate could never be a bad thing, and making love to you is.....to magical for words to describe."

"I don't suppose we'll have long before they get here will we?"

Bra's heart sank a little. She wasn't so confident that she could persuade her father to let her stay. "I guess not."

Kyle's arms snaked around her as he pulled her up out of the chair. "I'd fight for you, Bra. I'd never give you up so easily as to let him come between us. Even if I can't ask my people to fight for you, I will gladly."

"I wouldn't ask you to. I don't want you to get hurt."

"What makes you think I'd be the one to get hurt?"

"I don't want my family to be hurt either, Kyle. I love you both."

"Do you want to go home?" he ask incredulously, releasing her.

"I didn't say that, Kyle. This is home to me now. I'd never leave you unless...." Bra couldn't finish her sentence. It hurt too much to think about it. To imagine a time without Kyle's teasing presence or his loving touch.

"Unless?" Kyle prompted, standing back away from her now.

"Please understand. I don't want anyone to get hurt. I'd only leave if I thought it would keep things from becoming hostile. It wouldn't be forever. I know deep down my father loves me, and he only wants the best for me. He wants to see me happy, and he'd come to realize that you're the only one that can make me happy." Bra pleaded for his understanding, tears filling her eyes as she watched his face harden. It wasn't the answer he wanted, and now he was pulling away from her. Couldn't he see that she only wanted what was best for everyone concerned? She started to call out to him as he turned to leave, but as if he'd read her mind, he turned and held up a hand to quiet her.

"What are you doing to us?" His voice was thick, but Bra knew what he was hiding under that expression of stone. She reached for him, but stepped back shaking his head. "Don't." he told her before he stomped out of the room.

"Please?" she whispered to the empty doorway. "Please come back."

************

Kyle stomped down the walk way away from his house. What was wrong with her? He thought she was happy here. He thought he could make her want to stay. Why had she accepted to be his mate if she had no intention of staying? What game was she playing with him? He didn't understand.

"Excuse you, Kyle."

"Hu?" Kyle looked up into Vonzera's green eyes. "Oh sorry."

"Sorry? Since when does the chief's heir say he's sorry for anything?"

"I say I'm sorry when I do things that warrant it. You have no room to talk, either. You never say your sorry for anything."

"Calm down, Kyle. I just kidding. Besides, a princess shouldn't have to apologize for anything." the pretty ware-tiger winked at him. "What's bothering you? You seem distracted."

Kyle looked at his cousin curiously. "Am I so transparent?"

"Unbelievably so. That's why I should be the one to inherit my father's legacy instead of you. At least I can hold a stone cold expression that's indecipherable."

"Perhaps."

"You aren't going to argue with me?" she ask, puzzled. "It must be really bad."

"She doesn't want to stay, and I don't have the time to change her mind." Kyle told her.

"How do you know? I watched her last night. She entered the circle next to you of her own will. What makes you think your sueka wants to leave."

"She said as much."

"What exactly did she say?"

Kyle looked away. "She said she wouldn't leave unless....."

"Unless?" Vonzera repeated as he had done.

"Unless it would keep things from becoming too hostile. If she loved me she would never consider leaving in the first place."

"Perhaps it's because she loves you that she would leave. I'm sure she knows how delicate this situation is for all involved, her people and ours. Not everyone is ready for what you're forcing on them. She seems to be a rational female with a quick mind and an eye for trouble. Have you ask her?"

"Have I ask her what?"

"If she loves you."

"If she....? No. I haven't. I didn't think I needed to until now."

"Why now? Do you have so little faith in your choice?"

*************

Bra laid in bed, listening for any sign of Kyle returning. It had long since gone dark and still Kyle stayed away. Finally there was a rustle of movement in the front room and footsteps down the hallway. They paused in front of her door, and Bra held her breath. For a moment she thought he'd decided not to enter, but then the hide was brushed aside and quiet steps closed the distance between the two. The bed dipped as he crawled in behind her and moments later strong hands gripped her waist to pull her back into him. A sob escaped her lips as she turned to bury her face in his chest. Tears soaked the skin beneath her face and Kyle's arms tightened around her.

"Please don't go, Bra. Don't leave me." he whispered in her ear. Bra cried a little harder as her heart broke into a few more shards. Bra? What happened to sueka?

"It wouldn't be because I wanted to." she choked out.

"How long?"

"How long?" Bra mimicked dumbly.

"How long will it take you to convince your father?"

"Perhaps I won't have to leave. I don't know." Bra answered honestly.

"I suppose I could always sneak in as before. We wouldn't have to be so far apart."

"I wish you would. Having you near would be a great comfort."

"Bra? Answer me one thing. Do you...." Kyle stopped, his courage escaping him.

"Do I what?" Bra urged.

"Never mind. Let me. I need you." The short sentences made sense as Kyle's paws traveled along her body and his lips explored her face. He shouldn't feel the need to ask. Bra knew she belonged to him heart, body, and soul. She needed his touch as much as he needed to touch this night. There wouldn't be much time before her father was here.

"You don't have to ask."

"Yes, I do."

"Please, sueke. Love me."

*************