Page 42 of Einar (The Brigands of Ruk #2)
Chapter Forty-Two
ROWAN
Over the next week, Einar and I settle into a comfortable routine. After expressing my interest in learning how to be a medic, or at least an assistant to Einar , we spend our days in the med bay after breakfasting with the rest of the crew, but the nights…
Oh , the nights…
After breaking the seal on sex, Einar and I have been going at it like rabbits, to coin my sisters’ phrase. I’m not saying that I’m 100% better, but any time Einar senses I’m struggling with something we stop and talk it out. The powers that be couldn’t have brought me a better life partner than him.
Unfortunately , Bikar’s scans have told us absolutely zilch, much to his frustration. The technology he’s using goes way over my head, but Einar’s told me that Bikar has tried everything from thermal scans to something similar to echolocation, only to come up with the same results every time.
Zero life found.
It’s been extremely hard on all of the guys, and you can tell that Kallen is holding on by a thread. Ruarc still hasn’t sealed their bond, and the tension between them is palpable as well as building as each day passes. After reviewing another set of failed scans, Slavic made the decision this morning that he would lead the first team to go down to the planet to investigate in person.
Slavic , Einar , and Ruarc are going to be team one, while Falon , Bikar , and Murgul are on team two. None of the guys want any less than three of them left on board since we will be staying on the Zenith . The Velgriddix know where this planet is, so they’re all on edge.
Watching Einar get suited up to go down to Deapra is like my own personal peep show, but in reverse. Who knew watching your man strap weapon after weapon onto his person would be hot?
“ Rowan , I can smell your arousal from across the room. We really do not have time for this, Slavic is waiting and has lost patience.”
“ Einar , honey. I don’t think Slavic has ever had any patience. I’ve no idea how Ruby puts up with him.”
Shaking his head at me, Einar huffs out a laugh.
“ I cannot deny the validity of that statement, little Starshine . Now , as much as I would like to ravish you, I must head to the loading bay. Do you wish to walk with me?”
“ What kind of question is that? Of course, I do!”
The sight of Ruby and Slavic making out to the left of the shuttle door really shouldn’t shock me. Seconds turn into minutes as Einar , Ruarc , Kallen and I stand there waiting for Slavic to remove his tongue from Ruby’s mouth. My sister has never been one to worry about PDA rules, but I can’t help but harass my brother-in-law every chance I get.
“ Slavic , I thought you were in a hurry?”
The impertinent sound of my voice jars him enough that he releases Ruby , letting her legs fall to the ground from where they were wrapped around his waist as he shoots me a frustrated look followed by a half-hearted growl. Mission accomplished, I turn and look up at Einar . His beloved face is wreathed in smiles after watching me admonish Slavic .
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Slavic and Ruarc enter the shuttle, so I know he has to go, but before he does, there’s something I’ve needed to tell him for some days.
“ Einar , honey?”
“ Yes , little Starshine ?”
“ I love you.”
His jaw drops.
“ You tell me this now? Right before I am to leave and go down to Deapra ?!”
Poking him in the chest, I glare up at him.
“ Life is short and unpredictable. I wanted you to know before you left, just in case. Anyway , you’re supposed to say it back, mister.”
He must see or hear the vulnerability I’m trying to hide because both arms pick me up, plastering our fronts together, and bringing our faces eye level.
“ Rowan , you are the greatest gift I have ever been given, and I thank the gods of Ruk each day for you. I love you with every fiber of my being, little Starshine .”
Sniffling , I don’t try to wipe away the stray tears that’ve escaped in response to his words. Cupping his jaw between my hands, I lean in and press a lingering kiss to his mouth before leaning back. His dragon eyes are blazing with the love he has for me, and I’ve no doubt mine are reflecting the same emotion right back at him. Slowly , he eases me back down until my feet touch the floor and he releases me.
“ I will be back soon, my mate. Then we will discuss your exceptionally poor timing when it comes to declarations of love.”
With that, he lightly smacks my ass before walking through the shuttle door, and I watch as it closes behind him while rubbing the warm spot on my behind.
The second Ruarc lands the shuttle safely within the Zenith , I unbuckle from my chair and hit the release on the door. Rowan’s declaration of love caught me completely off guard, and I found it difficult to focus once we reached Deapra’s surface.
Ignoring a laughing Slavic and Ruarc , I comm Bikar .
“ Bikar , where is my mate?”
“ Let me check. Ah , she is in your quarters.”
Feeling a grin creep across my face, I thank him and end the comm link. Sprinting down the halls, I arrive at the door in record time, barely stopping to swipe my hand across the pad to open it. Rowan’s head jerks up at my abrupt arrival.
“ Oh wow! You’re back already? You guys were only gone for a couple of hours. What happened?”
Momentarily distracted, my frustration and disappointment must show because she immediately gets off the couch and meets me in the middle of the room with a comforting hug.
“ Rowan , there was nothing. Absolutely nothing. The dwellings are all empty. Some of them look like the residents left in the middle of daily tasks, as if they just dropped everything and departed. Fields once full of plants for harvest are rotting and decaying due to lack of care. If my mam and little sister were there, it was many lunar rotations ago. We are at a dead end.”
“ Oh , Einar , honey. I’m so very sorry. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“ As a matter of fact, there is. Remember the morning after we sealed our bond, and I retreated into the med bay to do some additional testing on myself?”
“ Okay , sudden topic change, but yes, I remember.”
“ When we were sealing our bond, I recalled tasting something sweet in my mouth. After collecting a specimen, I found that my saliva is more than I once thought. My Ruk genetics influence it to help a female stretch to accommodate our males without tearing, but my Atraxian genetics have presented with an aphrodisiac venom. With further research, I discovered there are two small glands in the roof of my mouth where the venom is stored. I have felt the urge to bite you many times while we have mated.”
Her eyes get wider and wider the more I talk before she spins, shedding her clothes as she walks to the sleeping platform. Fully nude, she climbs up, intentionally flashing herself at me in the process. Following her lead, I drop my weapons and clothes as I go, my pivy hardening with each step until I am fully erect and standing next to the sleeping platform. Gazing at my mate, I lick my lips. She is a feast, and I am a starving male.