Page 70 of Einar

Zerolife found.

It’sbeen extremely hard on all of the guys, and you can tell thatKallenis holding on by a thread.Ruarcstill hasn’t sealed their bond, and the tension between them is palpable as well as building as each day passes.Afterreviewing another set of failed scans,Slavicmade the decision this morning that he would lead the first team to go down to the planet to investigate in person.

Slavic,Einar, andRuarcare going to be team one, whileFalon,Bikar, andMurgulare on team two.Noneof the guys want any less than three of them left on board since we will be staying on theZenith.TheVelgriddixknow where this planet is, so they’re all on edge.

WatchingEinarget suited up to go down toDeaprais like my own personal peep show, but in reverse.Whoknew watching your man strap weapon after weapon onto his person would be hot?

“Rowan,Ican smell your arousal from across the room.Wereally do not have time for this,Slavicis waiting and has lost patience.”

“Einar, honey.Idon’t thinkSlavichaseverhad any patience.I’veno idea howRubyputs up with him.”

Shakinghis head at me,Einarhuffs out a laugh.

“Icannot deny the validity of that statement, littleStarshine.Now, as much asIwould like to ravish you,Imust head to the loading bay.Doyou wish to walk with me?”

“Whatkind of question is that?Ofcourse,Ido!”

Thesight ofRubyandSlavicmaking out to the left of the shuttle door really shouldn’t shock me.Secondsturn into minutes asEinar,Ruarc,KallenandIstand there waiting forSlavicto remove his tongue fromRuby’smouth.Mysister has never been one to worry aboutPDArules, butIcan’t help but harass my brother-in-law every chanceIget.

“Slavic,Ithought you were in a hurry?”

Theimpertinent sound of my voice jars him enough that he releasesRuby, letting her legs fall to the ground from where they were wrapped around his waist as he shoots me a frustrated look followed by a half-hearted growl.Missionaccomplished,Iturn and look up atEinar.Hisbeloved face is wreathed in smiles after watching me admonishSlavic.

Outof the corner of my eye,IseeSlavicandRuarcenter the shuttle, soIknow he has to go, but before he does, there’s somethingI’veneeded to tell him for some days.

“Einar, honey?”

“Yes, littleStarshine?”

“Ilove you.”

Hisjaw drops.

“Youtell me this now?RightbeforeIam to leave and go down toDeapra?!”

Pokinghim in the chest,Iglare up at him.

“Lifeis short and unpredictable.Iwanted you to know before you left, just in case.Anyway, you’re supposed to say it back, mister.”

Hemust see or hear the vulnerabilityI’mtrying to hide because both arms pick me up, plastering our fronts together, and bringing our faces eye level.

“Rowan, you are the greatest giftIhave ever been given, andIthank the gods ofRukeach day for you.Ilove you with every fiber of my being, littleStarshine.”

Sniffling,Idon’t try to wipe away the stray tears that’ve escaped in response to his words.Cuppinghis jaw between my hands,Ilean in and press a lingering kiss to his mouth before leaning back.Hisdragon eyes are blazing with the love he has for me, andI’veno doubt mine are reflecting the same emotion right back at him.Slowly, he eases me back down until my feet touch the floor and he releases me.

“Iwill be back soon, my mate.Thenwe will discuss your exceptionally poor timing when it comes to declarations of love.”

Withthat, he lightly smacks my ass before walking through the shuttle door, andIwatch as it closes behind him while rubbing the warm spot on my behind.

ThesecondRuarclands the shuttle safely within theZenith,Iunbuckle from my chair and hit the release on the door.Rowan’sdeclaration of love caught me completely off guard, andIfound it difficult to focus once we reachedDeapra’ssurface.

Ignoringa laughingSlavicandRuarc,IcommBikar.

“Bikar, where is my mate?”

“Letme check.Ah, she is in your quarters.”

Feelinga grin creep across my face,Ithank him and end the comm link.Sprintingdown the halls,Iarrive at the door in record time, barely stopping to swipe my hand across the pad to open it.Rowan’shead jerks up at my abrupt arrival.

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