Page 80 of Fire Forged

He laced his fingers through hers and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.“Losing Kyerx expanded my void as if a decade of my life had passed.I had to assume a façade to minimize emotion.I refused to let it claim me before Father succumbed.”He grinned.“It is why I scowl at my males.”

“You used to be grumpy.That’s what you said.”

“And that you are beautiful,” he said, feathering a kiss along her inner wrist.“I meant it.”

She shivered, the warmth from his lips seeping into her.But when her stomach gurgled, he leaned back with a chuckle.

“My Dar Eth must be fed,” he said, sliding off the bed and dragging her with him.

“Iamhungry.What will you have this morning?”

“French toast if I get to lick the syrup off your lips.”

She laughed.“Ew.Saliva all over my—”

He whipped her against his chest and kissed her, snatching her breath.“Do not ever believe that you cannot share what bothers or pains you,thamani.I will always listen.”

Her heartbeat skittered.“Do I get to hold a blaster to your chest if you don’t listen?”

He laughed, flashing that knee-quaking dimple of his.“Please do.I like your fire.”

“So I’ve learned,” she grumbled.“Kind of diminishes its effectiveness when it doesn’t shock you.”

“I have faith that you will never fail to surprise me.”He nudged her at the replicator.“Dress.Aldur is well enough to install your O.D.I.”

“Oh?”she gasped, excitement dancing along her nerve endings.Or was this reaction from his hot, sensual kiss?She ordered jeans and a T-shirt, then sat and slipped on her sneakers.All while he donned another set of armor.Her imagination painted him in low-riding jeans, bare feet, and a tight black T-shirt.Her mouth dried, and she blinked at him.

“I’ll wear something Etterian, if you put on a pair of jeans for me.”

He arched a brow.“Intriguing, but yes, doable.”

She hummed her excitement.“I look forward to you putting it on…and taking it off.”

Chapter Twenty-One

DearDiary,

I know, I’ve been neglectful.My bad.Expect this to be a long one, then nothing for a while.Days have blurred.Happy ones, though.Still, I can’t help feeling like I’m just pretending we’re the perfect family and that Nerx loves me.If he truly did, I’d be more than this lumpy sack of shit, faking the smiles.

The memory of his dimple had her humming.

Come bedtime, he worships my body, flooding me with hope that he could, at any moment, up and confess that I’m his moon and stars.

She winced.Nothing was stopping her from telling him how she felt.

Not that I’ll blab first either.Hell no.I suppose, a one-sided love is better than nothing.Imagine if I still hated his ass.That would suck, for sure.

Mom and Aldur blinked across to the king’s ship on day eight with promises to attend my wedding.Yup, you heard right.Somehow I doubt they’ll make it, considering they’re heading toward the Viqrian battleships and we’re heading away.Might have to postpone, which I’m okay with.

Since Aldur is Nerx’s medic, we got Lima Coll in exchange.Lima stands for ‘teacher,’ and is reserved for the oldest of Etterians still fighting the void.Oops, sorry for the lesson.Their culture’s fascinating, and no doubt, about to be messed with—us humans can’t leave shit alone.

Come to think of it, neither do us women, so the Viqrians might make a bigger impact.Who knows.

Got sidetracked.Oh, yup, my quarters.You guessed it.Coll’s arrival got me kicked out and ‘moved’ into Nerx’s, making it official.I should’ve asked for keys to our apartment, but that would’ve been an inside joke only I’d get.No point of sniggering to myself.That’s just some sad shit right there.

She tapped the side of the tablet, trying to gather her thoughts.What had she wanted to say?

Well, I asked for a honeymoon, and the sweet ass said we were already on it.Can you believe the audacity of trying to wiggle out of a beach trip?I put paid to his sad attempts.So we’re going to Galaza.

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