Page 53 of Maar's Girl

Maar's eyes snap to mine, a question burning in them. I soften, reaching out to cup his cheek. "I always knew you'd come back, you big lug. Felt it right here." I tap my chest, right over my heart. "Fated mates, remember? Can't shake me that easily."

He leans into my touch, eyes closing briefly. "How long have you known I was close?"

I smirk. "Oh, a few days now. The Marines spotted you first, actually. Gave me a heads up. But I'd felt you before that. It's like... a warmth, right here." I gesture vaguely to my core. "Gets stronger the closer you are."

Maar's free arm wraps around me, pulling me close. "I'm sorry I stayed away so long. I thought-"

"You thought you were protecting us," I finish for him. "I know. But Maar, we're stronger together. Always have been."

He nods, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "So, a farm, huh? Never pegged you for the agricultural type."

I laugh, the sound light and free. "Oh, just you wait. I've got plans for that place. And you, mister, are going to help me bring them to life."

I can't help but smile as I watch Maar and our son, Laar, interact. It's like watching two sides of the same coin – one weathered and battle-hardened, the other shiny and new, but both unmistakably cut from the same cloth.

"Dada, look!" Laar squeals, holding up a toy spaceship. "It goes zoom!"

Maar's face softens, a rare sight that still makes my heart skip a beat. "That's right, little warrior. But real ships don't just go zoom. They have to navigate through asteroid fields and dodge enemy fire."

I snort. "Are you seriously giving our two-year-old a lecture on space combat?"

Maar shoots me a sheepish grin. "Never too early to learn, right?"

Laar, oblivious to our exchange, starts making exaggerated whooshing noises as he flies the toy around Maar's head. Suddenly, he stops and fixes his father with a serious look. "Dada, you fight bad guys?"

I tense, wondering how Maar will handle this, but he doesn't miss a beat. "I used to, kiddo. But now my job is to keep you and your mom safe. That's the most important mission of all."

Laar nods solemnly, then breaks into a toothy grin. "Me help! Me fight bad guys too!"

"Oh no, you don't," I interject, scooping him up. "The only thing you'll be fighting is bedtime, mister."

Laar pouts, looking so much like his father it's almost comical. "But Mama, I not sleepy!"

Maar chuckles, ruffling Laar's hair. "Tell you what, little warrior. If you go to bed now without a fuss, tomorrow I'll teach you some Vakutan moves. Deal?"

Laar's eyes light up. "Deal!" He squirms out of my arms and races towards his bunk, leaving us both laughing in his wake.

"You're going to regret that promise," I warn Maar, but there's no heat in it. "He'll have you demonstrating roundhouse kicks before breakfast."

Maar pulls me close, his warmth enveloping me. "Sounds perfect to me."

CHAPTER 37

MAAR

The hotel room on New Verdan is a haven, a sanctuary amidst the chaos that’s become our lives. Laar is asleep in the other room, his tiny chest rising and falling in the steady rhythm of deep slumber. I watch him for a moment, my heart swelling with a love so fierce it nearly brings me to my knees. He’s a miracle, a testament to the bond Alyssa and I share.

I close the door gently, ensuring the quiet doesn’t disrupt his dreams, and turn to find Alyssa leaning against the wall, her eyes filled with a hunger that mirrors my own. Words hang unspoken between us, a tapestry of longing woven from months apart, from fear and sacrifice, and from the indomitable will to survive and find our way back to each other.

“Maar,” she whispers, and it’s like a balm to my weary soul. Her voice, soft yet resonant, ignites the jalsaghar bond that tethers us together.

I cross the room in two strides, my hands finding her waist, pulling her against me. Our bodies fit together with the precision of two puzzle pieces that have finally found their match. Her hands tangle in my hair, and I feel her breath hitch as ourlips meet in a fierce, desperate kiss. It’s a homecoming, a reaffirmation of life and love and everything in between.

“I missed you,” I murmur against her mouth, the words inadequate for the vast ocean of emotion inside me.

Alyssa’s response is a low moan as she nips at my lower lip, her fingers tracing the outline of my jaw. “Show me,” she breathes, and there’s a challenge in her eyes that sets my blood on fire.

The hungerthat's been simmering beneath the surface bursts forth, a raw and untamed force as I claim Alyssa's mouth again, my hands roving over the curves of her body. She matches me, her fingers digging into my shoulders, her sighs and gasps adding fuel to the fire that roars within me. This isn't just carnal desire; it's a reaffirmation of our bond, a defiance of everything that's tried to tear us apart.

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