Page 352 of Gladiators of the Vagabond Boxset

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I didn’t ease up on my worry until Jakar had had a full check-up from the kind doctor.

I was worried his heart might burst after all those shocks and the stress.

I specifically remember asking the doctor to check for any heart damage, and the Doc had just politely nodded and smiled, moving his scanner to the center of Jakar’s massive chest.

Once he’d assured me all was well, I had just sagged against Jakar, all the energy leaving me in a big whoosh.

I was done for, exhausted, but I was also just so happy right now.

We were free, safe, and I’d learned so much about myself and what I needed in life.

And what I needed was definitely this big, gentle sweetheart at my side, making me smile, giving me gifts because it made him happy too.

Making love to that sexy body of his. Yeah, I couldn’t wait to get started on that.

It was overwhelming to meet all the people on the ship all over again, but I was grateful for Hina’s tight hug. She was the most familiar face, and she was just so gentle and kind. I could see us being close friends now that I wasn’t holding so much of myself back.

When Jakar proudly led me to his room, I was glowing so much on the inside that it spilled out onto my face in a giant smile.

Yeah, he wanted to show his friends that I’d agreed to be his girl—his mate—but I was proud to show the same thing.

I even loved the catcalls and the whistles, especially that obnoxiously loud one from Camila, the lady with the super-long braid.

Jakar paused us in front of his door in the hallway with all the prettily decorated doors.

His had a giant tree painted on it—like the tree of life—in bright, vibrant colors that made the whole painting look almost alive.

I was impressed. Each door looked different, with varying degrees of artistry, but this one was out-of-this-world beautiful.

He was so freaking talented; I needed to make sure he painted more things.

When the door slid open, I was greeted by a wilderness of green.

My smile just got wider. Of course, Jakar would have plants everywhere in his room.

And there, perched in a cubbyhole, was the blooming plant he’d gifted me, repotted and safe.

I recognized those pink blooms, one stalk broken but gently splinted by some of that handy plasfilm.

Then my eyes widened when I spotted the hammock dangling from one wall to the next. It looked big and sturdy, wide enough for both of us, and the type that had a mattress bottom, not just fabric that conformed to your body. That was going to take some getting used to, but I was all for it.

“Oh, Hina must have taken care of my plants, they look good,” Jakar said with a grin and what was a hint of relief. My sweetheart had totally been worried about them; I thought that was the cutest, especially when I saw how his spots were glowing with color, mostly yellow.

“Come on, big guy,” I said, taking one of his hands.

I’d spotted the door to the shower. He was only too willing to get naked with me in there, our clothes discarded on the floor around us, soap getting pretty much everywhere.

Then he had me up by the hips, pinning me against the shower wall, his tendrils wiggling through my folds to stroke along my clit.

His ridged cock slid into the hilt. Obviously, we liked doing it standing up, no complaints from me.

Panting around his intrusion, I let him set the pace, my hands roaming all the parts of his body I could reach.

The strange-feeling bandages on his skin rejected the water so it beaded off them in shimmery little rivulets.

I reached up for his shoulder, stroking the edge of the bandage there.

We’d made it. He was alive; I was alive.

I had never felt happier than I did right now, with him inside me and the promise of the future ahead of me—adventure waiting for us both.

I splintered apart around his member, screaming his name and sobbing that I loved him.

His spots sparkled like rainbows across his face, telling me he loved me too.

His seed burst from him as he shouted my name, all four arms tightening around my body until I felt completely surrounded. “I love you, Meena. Always.”

We dried off, curled up in that hammock, which was extremely comfy, and then I climbed on top of him to make love a second time.

Yeah, I was going to keep on missing my family, but this was not the end—this was just the beginning, and I had a new family waiting for me here.

I wouldn’t be alone. I could be a little sad and a lot happy at the same time.

I mean, who wouldn’t be happy when they had a guy willing to go through his own personal hell for you?