Page 87 of The Alien Warrior's Heart

Simone planted small, urgent kisses on Zar’s face. “I love you.” She pressed her lips to his cheek. “I love you, Zar.” Her heart pattered and crashed like a cymbal gone awry in a marching band. She was so overwhelmed by it. By him. By love. She could hardly contain herself. “I’m so glad you’re okay. So glad.”

“Si-Moon.” Zar wrapped his fingers around her shoulders and drew her back. He stared into her eyes and she got lost in him. So lost that she doubted she would ever find her way out again.

His joy swept through her and tangled with her own knotted emotions. They wove and dipped until they were one. Until it seemed impossible to separate them.

Zar’s big fingers cupped her cheek. “I am… sorry.”

“No. No. Don’t apologize. This is my fault. I should have never accused you without giving you an opportunity to explain yourself. I just jumped to conclusions because my feelings for you were getting too intense, and I was looking for any excuse to guard my heart. Even though it was already yours.” She placed her hand on his and stroked his knuckles. “I’m yours, Zar. I’ll always be yours.”

“Intera-won.”

“Intera-won,” she whispered, smiling like a sap. Her heart expanded and filled with so much happiness that she didn’t know what to do with herself.

Her entire life, Simone had imagined a prince swooping in to save her from her stepfather’s violence. As an adult, she’d had the secret dream of being rescued by a dashing man and whisked away from her fearful, bland existence.

But what she’d wanted wasn’t what she needed. An alien from a planet all the way across the galaxy breathed life into her stone-cold heart. He’d chased away her fears. He was the only one who could do that.

Because he was Zar.

Her mate.

Intera-won.

Zar lowered his head and, for the first time since they’d met, he kissed her gently. There was just exquisite tenderness. No heat of fury. No restlessness behind his embrace.

He moved his lips over hers like she was the most priceless treasure. Like he had all the time in the world to taste her and claim her as his own.

Without the rage that needled into everything he did, Simone could feel the purity of his heart. The longing of someone who just wanted to find peace, even if they were steeped in blood and violence.

In that moment, she promised herself that she would take care of Zar’s heart just as tenderly as he’d taken care of hers. That she would protect his body just as fiercely as he protected hers.

Zar pulled back and continued to rub her cheek softly. His eyes began to shift color, from violet to black. He stared down at her as if he was trying to decide whether he should mate her now.

Simone giggled. “For once, can you wait until we’re lying down? You’re always throwing me against walls.”

“I do not,” Zar growled.

“First it was the cave. Then the bathroom. Do Plutonians only mate standing up?”

Zar’s lips twitched.

Korben cleared his throat. “In case you two have forgotten, I am still here.”

Simone froze. Embarrassment swept through her.

Great.

Now the terros knew exactly where and how, Zar had…

An embarrassed croak vibrated her throat.

Zar just shook his head, wrapped her in his arms and kissed her cheek gently. In her ear he whispered, “Very well. We will find a cot.”

Slipping her hand in his, she smiled shyly and walked with her alien warrior to his busted-up zapten.

Thirty-Three

Zar

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