Page 49

“Mmm,” Elena moaned.

His grip on Elena tightened and his tongue followed hers as it retreated into her mouth. The kiss deepened and so did his need. This beautiful, sweet show of affection was proving to be extremely intimate and arousing, a mating of mouths, that his shaft kicked eagerly.

“You taste like candied ginger.” Elena pulled away, her sultry brown eyes appearing glazed, the pupils large.

“You taste like water and make me want more,” he groaned, feeling starved.

“Very tempting, but I think you need to rest.” She grinned as she shook her head, extricating herself from his grip. “And unfortunately, we have to get to your ship before nightfall.” She glanced at the position of the sun.

“You are right.” He frowned petulantly.

“Oh, that’s such a sad look,” she laughed. “How about you get into the pod and I pull you.”

He cocked a brow as he looked at the hovering stasis pod.

“I’m a warrior, I can walk.” He shook his head.

“You, stubborn sir, are going to climb your tail into that pod and rest. The ground is mostly level so I can pull you for a change,” she adamantly insisted, her hands propped on her hips.

He almost laughed. Here was this diminutive human, staring down a warrior twice her size. Though, the funny part was that his first instinct was to jump to attention.

“All right.” He held up his hands, yielding. “I’m obeying.” He pulled himself off the ground and approached the pod. As he was about to climb in, he paused. “You aren’t going to spin me around and try to fling me out, are you?”

Elena’s eyes widened in shock, then narrowed as she caught his impish grin and recalled the story from his youth.

“No, smartass!” she laughed, then started collecting their supplies.

“I can help you,” he offered.

“Get in!” She pointed the knife at him.

“Yes,marita!” he addressed her formally and swiftly climbed into the pod before she docked his tail.

Still, he felt guilty that she was doing all the work while he idly watched. Elena’s brow arched as she deposited their supplies in the hibernation chamber in front of him.

“Relax.” She massaged his stiff arm. “You really don’t know how to let someone do something for you, do you?”

“I’m a Cadi warrior. I serve.”

That had been his purpose for as long as he could remember. Without purpose, what value did he hold?

“We’re in this together. You just did the lion’s share saving our hide, now let me do this for you.”

She smiled and patted his arm, then picked up the rope and started pulling him and the pod.

Silently he thought about what she said. During the war, a warrior fought and struggled with every breath until victory was achieved or they piled dirt atop his grave. He’d merely applied that to this situation and the budding relationship with Elena. He had to care for her and do everything for her to prove he would be a good mate and not a burden. That’s how he thought it should be, like a battle to be won. Except, he had no clue how a mated pair truly functioned. He certainly hadn’t grown up around them. The elders at the youth asylum trained them for war, not relationships. Society taught that females were to be treasured and protected so that’s what he was doing, the only way he knew how.

But it can’t be one-sided. Elena is right. We’re in this together.He had to let her contribute and care for him the way she knew how, because if he didn’t, he might never learn things like how a kiss could heal more than scrapes.We both give of ourselves to each other. That is how a true bond works. That is how we become more than what we are alone.

Payim smiled wistfully as Elena pulled the pod, humming a cheerful tune. She was teaching him so many things he never imagined he’d have the privilege of experiencing, some he didn’t even know he was missing until he met her. She had a way of making him feel invincible with a smile and encouraging words. She tenderly cared for him in ways the warriors he surrounded himself with never could. At first, he’d worried his inexperience in being part of and raising a clan would be a detriment, but Elena had a great deal of experience with a large family. By her side, the impossible was possible.

Goddess of miracles, thank you for bringing me a female who complements my strengths and weaknesses in all ways. You are truly the mother of all.

NINE

PARTNERS

Elena