Keshara shook her head, walking her fingers up his arm to cup his chin flirtatiously. The sparkle in her eyes was mischievous. “When you know perfectly well neither of us is going to get much sleep because you will stay—”
Her mate put his hand over her mouth and laughed. “Don’t shock the kiddies.”
“Oh, these two are newly mated, they understand.” Keshara gave him a kiss on the cheek.
Elianna remembered the impending separation facing the other couple, with Gabe slated to fly off in the Chimmer ship as soon as she finished the last checkouts. “Do you think there was a Sectors scout ship? And crash survivors?”
Gabe shrugged. “Aydarr says MARL did a few hours of intense scanning of the Khagrish comms and databases once we reported the possible intel. He believes we picked up promising indications. Several teams are going out tomorrow to the most likely sites. I’m not getting my hopes up, though.”
“It’d be great to have a team member who actually knows where we are in relation to the Sectors,” Elianna said.
“I’ll believe it when the scout is standing in front of me, spouting astronav vectors, not before,” Gabe rose and pulled Keshara to her feet. “See you on the landing field at first light.”
The couple strolled away.
“Keshara is so brave about him having to leave soon.” Elianna shook her head. Until she fell in love with Kierce she’d never understood the pain a separation could bring. Their mate bond only intensified the emotions.
“Keshara understands the role he has to play.” Kierce was matter of fact. “You told me you’d go if your presence meant more chance of success. We all fight the battle in our own ways.”
“I’m glad no one is asking me to make the choice,” she said. “I couldn’t bear to leave you now we’re bonded. It was hard enough to be apart earlier.”
“I think we should work on the bonding a little more.” He winked. “While we have the privacy and the comforts of our own mated pair cave.”
“Aydarr did say we could have a small hut to ourselves at the island this time.” She let him pull her to her feet and after a moment of standing close together for mutual comfort, they began walking. “Although I liked our private bower in the woods. You building that was the most romantic thing I could ever imagine.”
Grinning, Kierce swept her into his arms. He sprinted along the path and she laughed at his impetuous gesture. “To tell you the truth,” he said in her ear, “I’m not really much for living in a cave. I’m planning when we finish the job at the island, I’ll petition for permission to build us a snug cottage here in the valley, away from the others. Just because the Badari started out in the caves doesn’t mean we have to fall in line forever. Either MARL protects the whole valley or he doesn’t. I can pick a spot where we’d be well hidden in the forest. As long as you like the idea of course.”
Elianna found the idea enchanting. “A den for a tiger and his mate,” she said, cuddling closer. “I’ve never lived in a real house, only on ships and in temporary housing.”
“The bower was nice but hardly sturdy enough to live in. We’d need a better home to raise our cubs, should we ever be so blessed.” Kierce set her on her feet as they’d reached the path leading to their cave. He lowered his head and brushed her nose with the tip of his in an affectionate gesture before giving her a slow kiss that left her weak at the knees. He extended his hand and she clasped it, grateful for finding this amazing man at the end of her ordeal at the hands of the Khagrish.
Together they ascended the path and Elianna paused at the top to gaze over the lake, iridescent under the moons, astonished at how peaceful she felt. “I always wanted to roam the galaxy—I must have been searching for something I believed was impossible to find, maybe didn’t even exist. A dream. But now, here with you, I’m content.” Turning to Kierce, she relished the warmth of the golden glow from his amber eyes.
Patting his chest over his heart, he said, “Your home is here.” Reaching out to set one fingertip above her heart, he added, “And mine is with you.”
They stood in silence for a moment, before entering the cave, which beckoned with cheerful light cast by the MARL unit for them. As she and Kierce walked through the living area to reach their bedroom, she remembered their last evening together in the cave, when Kierce had still been doing battle with his tiger half, and feared they couldn’t be mates.
“Hey.” He caught her gently to him. “You’re lost in thought somewhere.”
He’d taken off his shirt and now she brushed the golden mate mark on his shoulder with her fingertips. “We’ve come a long way since we were here last,” she said.
“Together, as we should be. I’m glad I was wrong about what our future held. I thank the Goddess morning and night for sending you to me.” Kierce undid her elegant silken top and slid the garment off, dropping it to the floor. He kissed her mate mark and Elianna shivered with pleasure. “You’re thinking too hard,” he said as he worked on the fastening of her slacks. “I can see I’m going to have to redouble my efforts to distract you.”
Elianna laughed and reached to the fastening of his utility pants. “Or get naked faster, whichever works for you.”
He lifted her in the air and took them both onto the bed. “Everything works for me where you’re concerned.”
As they came together, wrapped in each other’s arms, she pushed away all concerns about the ship, the island, and the other labs. Time enough to get back to serious concerns tomorrow, when she returned to work on the island. For tonight, there was only room for the two of them together in their private world, united by their unbreakable mate bond, stronger together than apart.
*****
Thank you for reading KIERCE! I hope you enjoyed the adventure (and, of course, I’d love a review if you have time and the inclination to write one. Even a few sentences would be wonderful. Authors relish reader feedback).
CAMRON is coming soon in mid-2019 and will continue with the Badari story and the quest to defeat the Khagrish enemy.
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USA Today Best Selling Author
Veronica Scott grew up in a house with a library as its heart. Dad loved science fiction, Mom loved ancient history and Veronica thought there needed to be more romance in everything. When she ran out of books to read, she started writing her own stories.
Seven time winner of the SFR Galaxy Award, as well as a National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, Veronica is also the proud recipient of a NASA Exceptional Service Medal relating to her former day job, not her romances!
She read the part of Star Trek Crew Member in the audiobook production of Harlan Ellison’s “The City On the Edge of Forever.”
Keep in touch with Veronica, via Facebook, Twitter, and her Blog.
Also by Veronica Scott
Science Fiction Romance
Sectors New Allies Series
Aydarr: A Badari Warriors SciFi Romance Novel
Mateer: A Badari Warriors SciFi Romance Novel
Timtur: The Teacher’s Alien Healer (Badari Warriors): In the Stars Romance
Note: Timtur is book 2.5 in the series timeline.
Jadrian: A Badari Warriors SciFi Romance Novel
Darik: A Badari Warriors SciFi Romance Novel
Gabe: A Badari Warriors SciFi Romance Novel
The Sectors SF Romance Series
Wreck of the Nebula Dream
Escape from Zulaire
Mission to Mahjundar
Hostage to the Stars
Trapped on Talonque
Star Survivor
Danger in the Stars
Two Against the Stars
The Fated Stars
Lady of the Star Wind
Star Cruise Series
Star Cruise: Marooned
Star Cruise: Outbreak
Star Cruise A Novella:
Stowaway Plus Rescue and Golden Token Short Stories
Star Cruise: Mystery Dancer
Historical Paranormal Romance
The Gods of Egypt Series
Priestess of the Nile
Warrior of the Nile
Dancer of the Nile
Magic of the Nile
Ghost of the Nile
Healer of the Nile
Lady of the Nile
Fantasy Romance
The Captive Shifter
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