Page 32 of Fire Forged

Oh, yes, please.

“Maker,” he mumbled, breaking the kiss.“You fire my blood,minus cesu.”He snatched a hard kiss then buried his fingers in her hair to hold her still for a long perusal.“If I was not honor-bound to inform Aldur or see to Lily, I would be learning every inch of your body.”

Whoa.What?Britt blinked at him.A kiss or two, no matter how steamy, didn’t mean sex.Despite wanting another taste of him, perhaps him leaving was for the best.Especially when disappointment sank deep, like cinder blocks tied to the feet of a corpse.A little morbid, but she’d been binge-watching old crime movies.

“Duty calls,” she managed.

“Soon, you will be my duty and my honor to protect,ensa.”

“Okay.”Whatever that meant.She watched him retreat, desire making his eyes glow.Then it hit her what her inner voice had been trying to tell her.“Nerx.Wait.”

Stilling,Brittfrownedandcrossed the room to stare into Nerx’s eyes.She brought her delicious spicy scent to engulf him.

He fought the urge to inhale it deeply.This close, her skin appeared smooth.Tiny lines fanned out from the corner of her eyes as if she’d had much to laugh about.And her lips… She’d let him kiss her and expected many more.

“Your eyes were dark blue.They’re lighter.Shit, did the pepper spray do that?”She stumbled backward, lowering herself into a comfy, her face pale, her eyes wide in horror.“I’m so sorry, Nerx.I never once considered what the spray could do to your physiology.”

He was too stunned to respond.Her body trembled, even her bottom lip, and a suspicious sheen of moisture filled her eyes.He didn’t like her so distraught.She was strong, bold, and not a cowering female, not by any standard.Yet, he couldn’t lie to her and say she hadn’t caused his eyes to pale when she had.

“Your pepper spray did not do this, Britta.”He kneeled before her, raising his hand to brush the tears slipping down her cheeks.He tried to be gentle and must have failed when her breath caught.Her gaze met his.

“It didn’t?”Before him sat a young woman in need of reassurance, in need of…him.

The feeling was indescribable, that she couldneedhim.But telling her the truth was so risky when much rested on her accepting him.Still, it was dishonorable to lie.

“No, finding my Dar Eth did.”

“You found a lover?”Her expression hardened.

He chuckled.“Dar Eth does not mean ‘lay.’”

“Then whatisit?What is Aldur doing with my mom?”Her chest rose and fell with her agitation.Her fingers crushed the fabric of her tunic.

“Spending time with her.”

“Good, I guess, but I’m still confused.Does Dar Eth mean companion?And if so, do you have another woman on board?”Her eyes narrowed, with her thoughts flitting across them.She was wondering why she’d yet to meet his woman.

“Yes, a close companion, as in inseparable.And no, no other woman.Just you,” he said despite the gravel texture to his voice.His other hand shook when he brought it up to caress her collarbone.

“Me?”Her lips parted; the dark pink depths of her mouth called to him.“But you hate me.”

He focused on the spots splattered across her cheeks.“I feel many things for you, Britta, but hate is not one of them.”

“Oh.”She hesitated then brushed her fingertips over his eyebrow.

He shivered, unable to prevent the reaction from slipping through his defenses.Her touch was better than when she’d cupped his cheek in medical.He’d been too angry to cherish that moment.He gripped her hip.She was so soft.Alodon’s balls, she tempts me.

She leaped to her feet, sprawling him backward.“What the hell does that mean?A companion for a short while, for this trip?”She danced away to pace in the tight confines.“I can handle a casual affair.But my mom… I will not have her hurt, Nerx.I won’t stand for it.Sure, she’s happy now, but if Aldur’s hoping for something short and sweet, it’s not happening.Does she know his intentions?”Britt rested her fists on her hips and glared at him.“Spill, Supreme Commander Nerx.Tell me exactly what being a Dar Eth means.”

“There is nothing casual about Eths and Dar Eths.”He grinned, enjoying how her mind worked.“According to Etterian law, when you triggered the Ethera in me and my eye color changed, you became my wife.”

She squeaked, threw back her hand to catch the bulkhead, then slid down.“What?”she whispered.

With her obscured by comfys, he stood, not wanting to miss her expressions.“For an eternity.Etterians do not divorce.”

She gaped at him.“No effing way.”

“Your term would be soulmate, though it does not encapsulate all you invoke in me.”

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