by Celia Kyle
Lana half turned and gestured at Brukr. “You can’t kill a man—”
“Male.” Taulan gripped his mate’s shoulder and spun her around once more. “And I can.”
“Just because we interrupted them? Did you really think they’d be clothed after… you know?”
Taulan grunted. “We you know often with coverings.”
“We have twins who try to set things on fire all the time. We never know when we have to go running to save someone.” Lana glanced over her shoulder and grumbled at Hannah. “Just wait until you’re in the same boat.”
Taulan cupped his mate’s head and forced her to stare in the opposite direction once more. “Hannah, have you put on your coverings?”
“Da. Da. Da.” Shanas smacked his father’s shoulder, but the War Master wasn’t giving his son attention. “Da. Da.” Shanas hit harder. “DaDaDaDa.”
Taulan sighed and dropped his head forward. “What, Shanas?”
“Weenee.” One chubby finger pointed over his mother’s shoulder at Brukr.
Which had Lana glancing at Brukr once more. “Yes, that is a weenie. Aren’t you a smart boy?”
“Coverings. Now!” Taulan snarled once again.
Which had Brukr snarling in return. “Do not speak to my mate in such a way.”
“Do not be unclothed in front of my mate.”
“If your mate would not interrupt a male claiming his female, I would not be unclothed in front of her.”
“If you did not injure your mate and ask for assistance, then Penelope would not have sought out my mate…”
And… And Hannah couldn’t hold it together anymore. First a snort broke through. Then a giggle. That was followed by a chuckle, and she ended it with a loud, high laugh. A laugh that started in her toes and stretched to fill her before it escaped her mouth. It was pure joy and happiness, a glee that she couldn’t keep quiet and refused to be muffled. She tipped her head back and let it free, let her heart and mind open to her mate while she voiced her elation.
And she couldn’t stop it. Not with the first whole body laugh or the second. It flowed through her, traveling along her nerves, and suffusing her connection to Brukr. She sensed his confusion, but she was too consumed with the joy to stop.
“She has lost her mind,” Taulan mumbled, and of course, Brukr snapped at the War Master.
“She has not lost her mind.” He dropped his voice to a low murmur. “Perhaps misplaced.”
That just had her laughing harder, and soon the twins joined in, puffs of smoke emerging from their tiny mouths and noses to encircle their mother. Lana giggled too, head thrown back.
“They have all lost their minds. Is it a human failing?” Taulan had turned, his gaze on Brukr.
“I have never heard of Preor females acting this way.” Brukr focused on her and Hannah lost it again. She fell to the side, managing to keep the pillow in place while she tumbled—barely—and continued to cackle. Her mate leaned over her and dragged a blanket atop her body as he stared down at Hannah. “Shaa kouva, is your mind still inside you?”
Hannah would have kept laughing, her happiness pushing her chuckles and giggles on and on right along with Lana and the twins, but… But there was true worry in Brukr’s eyes.
Worry and fear, and those were two emotions a fierce Preor warrior should never experience. It was enough to put an end to her laughter, and the last trailed away with a sigh. She clutched the blanket close and rose to her knees once more, crawling across the mattress until she could slide off the platform.
“Brukr,” she whispered. “Shaa kouvi, I’m fine.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I do not like that word. It has many meanings. Each more confusing than the last.”
Yeah, he had her there.
She leaned into him, resting her hand on his chest. “My body and mind are well. After we…” She glanced over her shoulder and spied the small family still in place, so she dropped her voice. “You know, I was just so happy.” She gave him a soft smile. “And then we were interrupted, and you and Taulan were fighting, and…” She shrugged. “And sometimes you’re in a situation so ridiculous that you can’t help but laugh. Two massive, deadly warriors arguing over being naked?” She grinned. “That’s funny.”
His glare softened—slightly. “You are not ill?”
“No.”
“Your mind is still inside you?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“You do not need medical care?”
She shook her head. “No.” She pushed to her tiptoes and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “I just need you.”
Brukr grunted. “Then after I finish my challenge with Taulan,” he lifted his attention and stared over Hannah’s head, “I will… He is gone.”
“I imagine Lana is explaining things to Taulan, too. And then I bet their evening will be spent a lot like ours.”
“Ours?” He quirked a brow.
“Yes.” She nodded. “You’re going to take me to our suite. You’re going to feed me. And then you’re going to give me another little piece of your heart.” She traced a small square on his chest. “This tiny piece right here.”
“And you, shaa kouva? What piece of yours will you give me?”
“There’s nothing left to give, Brukr.” She stared into his eyes and let him feel everything—experience every emotion inside her. “You have it all.”
~~*~~
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About the Author
Ex-dance teacher, former accountant and erstwhile collectible doll salesperson, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Celia Kyle now writes urban fantasy, science fiction (as Erin Tate), and paranormal romances for readers who:
1) Like super hunky heroes (they generally get furry)
2) Totally dig beautiful women (who have a few more curves than the average lady)
3) Love laughing in (and out of) bed.
It goes without saying that there's always a happily-ever-after for her characters, even if there are a few road bumps along the way.
Today she lives in Central Florida and writes full-time with the support of her loving husband and two finicky cats. (Who hate each other with a passion unrivaled. What’s up with that?)
Find Celia on the web…
@celiakyle
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www.celiakyle.com
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Copyright © 2016 by Celia Kyle
All rights reserved.
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