Star Crossed

by Heather Guerre

  Holding Lyra tightly in his arms, he rolled her onto her back. Her long, slim legs wrapped around his waist, and her hips tilted to take him deeper—to take all of him.

  With one final, hard press, he seated himself to the hilt. Lyra gasped, her back arching, her lips parting softly. He had to kiss those lips. He tasted her as he moved inside her—sweeping his tongue into her mouth while his hips worked a strong tempo between her thighs.

  “Asier,” she panted his name, her fingers digging into the muscles of his back. “I’m going to—” She gasped. “I’m going to—”

  And then she fell apart in his arms, her head thrown back, her body wracked with wave after wave of explosive pleasure. Her inner muscles clenched tightly around his cock, and the exquisite sensation of it pulled him over the edge with her. He thrust himself deep, growling out his love for her as his body was wracked by the pleasure of hers.

  They lay together quietly, peacefully. Neither of them slept, but they lingered in a half-dozing state, conscious thought abandoned for the immediacy of visceral things like the feel of each others’ bodies, the comfort of their nearness.

  “Asier?” Lyra said drowsily.

  “Hm?”

  “I’m not going to live as long as you. What will you do when I leave you in the middle of your lifespan?” Her voice broke. “And what about Orion? I’ll die before he’s even—”

  “You won’t,” Asier said gruffly, crushing her tightly to him.

  “I have every faith in your ability to defend against danger,” she said sadly. “But even you can’t fight off old age.”

  “I don’t have to, love. You’ll live as long as any Scaeven.”

  Lyra pushed back from him, staring up into his face with a skeptical frown. “What?”

  “You’ve noticed Orion has made you stronger? And that you heal faster?”

  “And hungrier.”

  Asier smiled. “That’s not his only gift. His mother will live a full Scaeven lifespan. You’ll get to see him grow, see who he becomes. We both will, side by side.”

  Lyra curled up against him. He could hear the tears in her voice, feel them on his chest when she asked, “Really?”

  “Yes.”

  It took some time for Lyra to collect herself. He simply held her while she came to terms with her new reality.

  When her tears had dried and her body relaxed again, she asked, “What will my life be like now?” Her fingers stroked idly over his chest.

  He pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head. “Whatever you want. If you want to keep piloting, we’ll get you through the licensing process and find you a post. If you want to sit at home and arrange flowers all day, you can do that. Whatever makes you happy.”

  “There are flowers in Scaevos?”

  Asier inhaled the scent of her hair. “Yes. Many. On my home moon, Varan, we have a kind of… a rose, is the closest comparison. It’s called rathira. It reminds me of you.” Her skin and hair were same colors as the variegated peach-gold petals. And, like the rose, her velvety soft, delicate beauty came paired with a wicked ferocity. The thorns of a rathira could pierce even Scaeven skin.

  Lyra pressed her lips to his shoulder in a tender kiss. He felt them curve up into a smile just before she nipped him with her teeth.

  Asier grinned and rolled her onto her back, using his big body to pin her to the bed. “Don’t start something you can’t finish,” he said huskily.

  “Oh, I intend to finish,” she assured him with a wicked smile.

  And she did. Twice.

  Much, much, later the cries of a baby brought them both to full alertness. They pulled on their clothes and went to the neighboring berth. Lyra hung back, letting Asier be the one to pick Orion up, to comfort him.

  She leaned against the bulkhead, watching her big, strong Scaeven gently handle his newborn son, and felt, deep in her soul, that she was home.

  THANK YOU!

  Thank you for reading Star Crossed. If you enjoyed Lyra and Asier’s story, please consider leaving a review at the retailer where you purchased it. Word of mouth makes a huge impact for new authors—and it helps fellow readers find great new stories!

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