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“True. Thank you.” Payim straightened.

“It’s also doubtful they’ll do any scouting. They seem to stay on their side of the canyon when the volcanoes are really active,” she reassured him as they started walking again.

“I don’t imagine they’d fly very low over this region with the bursting geysers,” he mused.

“Probably not. Although this end of the flats isn’t as active.”

“Truly.” He cocked one brow at her then incredulously glanced at the fountain of water erupting a hundred yards back.

“Yes,” she snorted in amusement. “I guess I’ve grown used to all this.”

“I imagine you don’t even need a chronometer. You can probably tell time just by these bursts.”

“Probably.” She studied the geyser that just erupted then pointed at the one straight ahead. “Three, two, one.” Nothing. “I said one!” she shouted at the geyser that was making her look like a fool. “Maybe I do need a…” It erupted as she was about to say watch.

“Oh, perhaps you should be carrying the bags and I should be leading.” Payim grimaced as he held out the pair of bags for her.

“That’s valid. Believe it or not, but I used to get lost in my own neighborhood,” she snorted and reached for the bags.

“No,” Payim laughed, snatching them back before she could take them.

God, he’s sexy.And when he laughed, he was absolutely irresistible.

His comment about mating again surfaced in her mind.

Surely, he was exaggerating about the mating thing.Would having sex with him truly mean they were married?He wouldn’t lie about his culture.

She shook her head. She couldn’t even believe she was questioning him because she was horny. Except she wasn’t merely horny and the thought of being married to Payim wasn’t scary. It didn’t even matter that he wasn’t human. Human, alien, or flying purple people eater, Payim was an amazing man; funny, kind, handsome and helpful. He ran circles around any man she’d ever dated back home.

It’s too soon for something like that. Isn’t it?

Elena took stock of all that she was feeling and what pursuing a relationship with Payim would truly mean. Her brow furrowed as she panned the harsh landscape then she smiled wistfully at Payim. Strangely the things she’d be giving up didn’t cause her the pain she thought they would.

“What is it?” he frowned, seeing her melancholy expression.

“I was thinking about home.”

“Ah.” He nodded in understanding.

“At some point, I guess I accepted that I’d never see it again.” She attempted to analyze why it didn’t devastate her.

“You can. I will make sure of it,” he promised earnestly.

“You are sweet. But that’s not what I’m getting at. Yes, I miss my family and friends, but I honestly don’t know if I can go back, even if it is physically possible. For starters, where would I say I’ve been? I have seen so much. I would have no one to share it with.”

“Ah, yes, your people are still isolated and xenophobic. If you returned, you could never speak of any of this. It would be very dangerous for you if your authorities discovered the truth.” Payim looked very worried and she had a feeling he had some experience with that.

“Exactly. I would have to separate a part of myself and deny any of this ever existed, the good and the bad.” She sighed. “I think sometimes in life things happen and they can’t be undone. You must move forward.”

“I am truly sorry.” He hung his head.

“Thanks. But don’t be sorry. If one lives long enough, they experience turning points to one degree or another. Part of what I was thinking was actually a happy thought.”

She paused as she considered Payim. If things went any further between them or not, she was lucky that fate threw them together. In just the short time she’d known Payim, she’d not only been given back hope and faith that people weren’t all abducting, murdering bastards, and the affirmation that her life wasn’t just pain, but she also felt deeply cared for and desired.

“What happy thought?” Payim asked, and she realized she’d stopped mid thought.

“Oh, yes.” She considered for a moment how to phrase what she was thinking. “I guess, even though I can’t go home, oddly enough, it’s not breaking my heart. The opportunity to see and experience new things is enough,” she answered sincerely.