Page 70 of Asmodel

“We’ll need lots of supplies to rebuild.” Talira hooked her arm through Jaltaar’s. “I bet it’ll take years to set everything right again. Let’s go somewhere to discuss our next steps as well as figure out how to get the Etherium for you.”

Raxx rubbed his hands together. “You hear that, Echo? That’d like set us up for life!”

With a sigh, Izzy mirrored Talira and slipped her arm around Asmodel. Well, wasn’t this nice? She always loved a happy ending.

Now, all she and Asmodel needed to figure out was how to stop a maniac from another dimension from ruining their own happily ever after.

Asmodel, holding Izzy's hand, followed Jaltaar and Talira through the debris-littered plaza with Raxx by his side. They ended up in one of the surrounding buildings deemed sturdy by a team of inspectors. As dusk settled, most civilians found refuge in any sturdy shelter they could.

Fortunately, there was a nice roomy conference room available, complete with chairs and an intact table.

As Asmodel took a seat next to Izzy, it occurred to him their little group was increased by several more scikvak. Short-furred zaltrixan as well as a smattering of pardalions with their silky long fur.

Before long, the air buzzed with loud conversations as plans were made, itineraries created, and personnel assigned.

Asmodel couldn’t care less.

The only thing he wanted to do was spend some overdue time with the gentle woman next to him. He longed to indulge in Izzy’s unique fragrance, preferably up-close and naked. Unable to resist, he rubbed a section of her lustrous hair, twiddling the strands resting on her shoulder between his thumb and forefinger.

“I’m sure that’s okay with organic man. Right?”

JR13’s voice jerked Asmodel out of his slumbering sensual haze. He was too busy imagining wrapping her hair around his closed fist to pull her steady as he pressed her naked body under his. He frowned. What did the bot say?

“Not surprised you lost your ability to speak. Expected it a long time ago.” Sarcasm laced JR13’s voice. “But could you at least nod in agreement?”

Asmodel’s eyes lingered on Izzy leaning toward an elder pardalion female, her head tilted as if to catch every word the scikvak said.

“Asmodel!”

JR13 shouting his name yanked Asmodel back to the conversation at hand. “What?” How could anything get done if everybody just sat around and yapped all day?

“Is… it… okay… with… you… if… I… go… with… Echo… and… Raxx?” JR13 huffed, his black-and-silver body wiggling. “That clear enough for you?”

The room got quiet. Even Izzy turned to him with a contemplative frown.

Asmodel clenched his teeth. Ever since the bot met Echo, he’d turned into a real pain in the ass. Or maybe it was all Raxx’s fault. Either way, they were welcome to him. At least for now. It sure wouldn’t take much to disown the annoying little thing. He sighed. But facing JR13’s “parents” without the little guy was a definite no-go. “If you think you can contribute more than a constant stream of criticism, go ahead.”

“I only give advice when warranted.” The iridescent wings on JR13’s back slid out and fluttered. The bot lifted off Asmodel’s right shoulder and buzzed over to land on Raxx’s.

Raxx smiled at his new passenger. He sent Asmodel a grin and a wave. “No worries, dude. He’ll be a big help with me and Echo. We’ll meet you back on theShadow Drifterin a few.” He waved a palm up.

And there was the exit line Asmodel had been waiting for. “Ready?” His lids went half-mast when he addressed Izzy. His heart raced and his palms were slick.For the love of a motherless goat.He couldn’t remember the last time he was this nervous.

Izzy’s brows raised. “What?” Her pretty brown eyes dilated as she studied him. “Oh my, yes.” She nipped the side of her bottom lip.

Asmodel put his arm around Izzy’s shoulder and stood with her, facing the others in the room. “If you folks will excuse us, we’re going to head back to theShadow Drifter.”

Not waiting for anyone’s response, he teleported himself and his woman to his cabin aboard the spaceship for some much-needed privacy.

Alone at last.

Now that the moment had arrived, Izzy shivered, a tangle of nerves wracking her body. She stood next to Asmodel in his cabin aboard theShadow Drifter, too anxious to take in her surroundings. It was only as an afterthought that she noted the cabin’s compact, yet comfortable, layout. There was a bed in one corner with crumpled blankets and plump pillow, while a single chair beside a small round table caught her eye on the other side. The material of the table was puzzling—wood, steel, glass? Its composition seemed to shift depending on whether she looked at it directly or from an angle.

Asmodel moved behind her, his warm body enveloping her back, covering her in his musky, spicy scent. She agreed to this, didn’t she? Here she was, getting ready to… do what she… hoped? Dreaded? All with a man she’d just met a day ago.

But, after going through several life-threatening situations, she knew some things about him already. General things, like he had four brothers whom he was close to. He was a caring man, ready to come and rescue a woman he’d never met before. He treated the alien scikvak community with dignity and chose to help the murderous Krystalii rather than figuring out how to kill her.

Then there was his constant companion, JR13. He never lost his temper with the bot, even when the droid was sarcastic to him. That showed patience.

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