Page 53 of Tail, Dark and Handsome: Celestial Mates
His arms tightened. “I am sure enough for the both of us.”
He expected her to grin and make a jape at being convenient and tolerable. Her self-deprecating humor was one of the features he admired.
Instead, a serious expression settled over her face. “And it’s not just us, there’s your son. We have to be sure.”
“Your false mate damaged you.” Which had to be the worst thing to say in the situation. He realized it the moment the words left his mouth. The half-second it took for the translator chip to twist his words into her human language lasted an eternity.
“I’m not damaged,” she said quickly, stepping back.
“Made you wary,” he corrected, but the soft, giving moment between them had ended.
She gave a nod. He closed the distance between them. Her breath caught in her throat. He knew she would be pleased when she discovered that he had freed her from the moneylender. He said, “This can take as long as you require. I am no young kit, impatient and hot-headed. But I cannot forget. You are in my heart. To forget you would be to remove a piece of my heart. Do not ask it of me.”
Marigold
Stubborn alien, saying all those beautiful words at her and looking delicious.
Keep it professional. It was too soon after Tomas. She needed time.
She ran through a list of very good reasons she shouldn’t have kissed her boss again, but those reasons appeared flimsy compared to the heat that melted his icy blue eyes when he looked at her.
No one had ever kissed her like that, like their being depended on it.
She shivered.
The computer chirped with an alert.
“We’re cleared for departure,” she said, sliding into her seat. Before she forgot, she lifted the crystal pendant that hung around her neck and gave it a quick kiss. “For good luck,” she said.
“I hired you for your skill, not for your luck,” he said as he strapped himself into the navigator’s seat.
Good thing, because she had the worst luck. Still, shouldn’t tempt fate.
She kept her eyes focused on the instrument panel. As much as she would have liked some time alone to think, she tingled having him near.
A month to Corra. A month was a long time. Anything could happen.
Chapter 11
Crash! Rebel Cayne stumbles away from vehicle accident. First responders on the scene claim the fading pop star was lucky to walk away with her life…
-Corra News Network
Marigold
Turns out four weeks in a mid-size personal ship is a long, long time. Don’t get her wrong, the ship was well equipped, but even the most luxurious ships would start to feel cramped in half that time. She had a cabin to herself, marginally larger than a closet, with walls just thick enough to give the illusion of privacy.
Keeping her distance from Winter, though, proved an impossible task. They were packed in together, and no matter where she went, he was only a few steps away.
She had asked him for time, to be sure before complicating their relationship. The attraction was undeniable, and Winter seemed to derive some satisfaction by catching her ogling when he stretched. Or left the communal cleansing room wearing only a towel around his waist.
Mari couldn’t even explain why she was hesitant. She liked Winter. She didn’t do casual, and while his lackluster proposal—she was attractive enough and tolerable, be still her heart—left plenty of room for improvement, she couldn’t say he was only looking for a hookup. Mr. Growly Claws was all about commitment, which was hot, if she was being honest.
So why did she have this artificial clock in her head, ticking down the days she had to wait to remain agood girlbefore she could move on? Sweet suffering nebulas. It wasn’t even that, not really. She didn’t think her heart could take it if she made another mistake by rushing in.
Mari slipped into the tiny kitchenette tucked in next to the common area. Really, the kitchen was a marvel of design and a ruthlessly efficient use of space. It had barely enough room for a single adult to move about and engage in an activity that resembled cooking, so of course everyone packed in at the same time.
Mari would like to say it was only Zero who had no patience and thought he could slip in behind her and grab a packet out of a cabinet, but it was mostly Winter. They just pushed in like she wasn’t there, bumping her into the counter.
