Page 81 of Hope Forged
Illan tightened his arms around Ziamee. “So, why bother me now?”
“King Xeus is on the comm.”
“Ah, my thanks, Ulta. I will take it in my quarters.” Illan unpeeled himself from Ziamee’s grasp and draped a blanket over her. When he dipped to kiss her, he inhaled her scent, hoping to forever trap it in his lungs and burn it into memory. How he adored this female.
With a last glance, he headed to his room next door. He ordered a fresh tunic and pants before facing the comm. “Ulta, I am ready.”
What Illan didn’t expect to see was a disheveled Xeus, his hair unbound and his cheeks dark. “She is in…labor. Come. As fast as you can.”
Ice drenched Illan’s shoulders. “I am on my way.” The comm ended, and Illan rested his forehead on the display vid. “Ulta—”
“Course amended. Brac and Coll are planetside and will remain.”
“Wait.” Illan whipped his gaze to his gaping door. “What of Seba?”
Ziamee wouldn’t abandon her pet, not after the station.
Pain cinched his chest, crushing his heart in a viselike grip. And he wouldn’t leave her behind.
“If we pass the lima kuu, the short distance confined in the scimitar might be bearable for Seba. How far are they?”
“Days out.”
Illan cursed and marched to Ziamee, gentling his touch when he awakened her.
“What is it?” she muttered, sitting up and stretching.
Elorach, she is beautiful.
And he’d have to leave her.
“My friend is giving birth. I must go. But the battleship that would be Seba’s home has yet to arrive. You can stay. What you decide, I will accept.”
Her cheeks mottled. “Seba?”
“Brac has ported down. As did Coll.”
She held Illan’s gaze for a few minutes, then cupped his cheek. A bittersweet smile curled her lips. “I choose you.”
An explosion of heat in his chest made his breath hitch. “Are you certain?”
She grinned. “Brac will care for Seba. Hewasmy only concern. Mudya and Padya need time alone to sort through their issues. I have no other ties to Vora.”
“Besides it being your home?”
Her head dipped. “That station was that male’s home and coffin. I won’t end up like him.”
“Damn,” Illan growled. He pinched her chin between thumb and forefinger and raised her gaze to meet his.I love youburned on his tongue, but in the light of recent events, he didn’t want to add to the emotional upheaval she was going through.
Now is not the time.
Instead, he released her and tapped his O.D.I. “Set course for Issneen.”
He peeled off his tunic and crawled onto the bed, forcing Ziamee to fall back.
She dented her top lip with her tongue. He swept in, stealing a kiss. Her words had committed her life to his. And even though he’d yet to reveal his heart, he could show her and offer comfort in the physical act of lovemaking.
He slowed his assault, savoring the sheer taste of her, her dueling tongue, her hands stroking over his upper arms to his back, the softness of her curves beneath him, the warmth pouring off her, and the sweet scent of her skin. All of her bodyhad to be worshipped from the dip of her neck where it met her shoulder, to the hard angle of her collarbone, to the plump beauty of her breasts. She reacted to him with sighs, moans, shivers, and delicious gasps.
