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“Why does this surprise you?”

Kara gave a tight smile.

“Because she’s not the maternal type.”

“I think perhaps she is.” He stepped towards her until mere inches separated them. “It will be all right, Kara. I give you my word.”

“Don’t speak too soon. You haven’t met my mother.”

“But it is customary, is it not, to meet the parents of one’s intended mate? Perhaps her arrival is fortuitous.”

He stared down at her with an intensity that made her pulse stutter. She dropped her gaze to gather her thoughts and found herself looking at his chest, visible through the deep V of his shirt.

It didn’t help. She was overcome by an urge to touch his skin. To slide her fingers over his exquisitely smooth scales. To lick his hard Vraxian abs.

Damn it.

“I’m not wearing my boots,” she murmured. He frowned.

“I’m not sure I understand.”

“It means, your Majesty, that you’re going to have to lift me up so I can kiss you.”

“Ah.” His face cleared. “That’s request I will happily grant.”

A serpetrus wrapped round her waist, raising her off the ground and pulling her close. She was tiny against his giant frame, but at the same time powerful. He didn’t attempt to kiss her but waited for her to take the lead.

She traced the contours of his face with her fingertips, marveling at how such different features to her own could be so compelling. She leaned in until she could smell his scent, that earthy mix of leather and citrus that made her yearn to touch him.

Then she pressed her mouth gently to his, kissing him with a sweet intensity that shook him to the core.

“Kara,” he said huskily against her lips. “I have to go.”

“You can’t leave me again. Not tonight.” She kissed his jaw. “Be with me.”

“It is too dangerous. If anyone hears us…”

“Then you’ll have to be very quiet.” She grinned mischievously. “If that’s possible.”

“Me?” He pressed his mouth to her ear. “The last time we made love the whole forest heard you.”

The last time we made love.Vahn regretted the words immediately as her smile fled. She sighed unhappily.

“Is it wrong to miss Minerva-6?” she asked. “I mean, that planet was a shit-hole but we were happy there, weren’t we?”

Vahn’s heart clenched.

“I swear to you on the graves of my father Qu’rash Castellian, my mother Sayxia Castellian, and my brother Zorin Castellian, I will make you happy again.”

She wrapped her arms about his neck and rested her forehead against his.

“I know you will, snake-boy.”

One of his serpetri stroked her back soothingly. She loved that he wanted to make her feel safe and comforted. But that wasn’t what she needed from him now.

“Do you know what would make mereallyhappy?” she murmured. “For you to take my clothes off.”

He groaned softly.