Page 10 of Krin (The Protectorate Warriors Alien Fated Mates #3)

Krin

WHILE WALKING AWAY , I discreetly adjusted my deflating erection, desperately trying to shift my focus away from the blissful memory of our shared kisses.

Having Riley’s body against mine fed the intense need inside me to want to claim her right there in the training ring. My cock stirred in my pants recollecting how perfect she felt in my arms. Her sweet feminine scent mixed with arousal. The tender fullness of her lips pressed against mine.

Gods, I was glad she was mine.

Yet the thought that someone could unexpectedly stumble upon us made me pause.

My claiming of Riley had to be perfect. When I mated with my K’sha for the first time, it would be in my bed.

Not on the training room floor. Now was not the time to act on my desires.

The time would come for me to claim my delicious fated mate.

When I had gone searching for my K’sha, I used the internal sensors to locate her.

Knowing she was a warrior I shouldn’t have been surprised to see Riley in the training ring. What did annoy me was seeing Aza with her when I should have been the one training with her.

The entire situation could have been prevented if I had gone to her sooner. Avoiding my K’sha was a mistake I needed to correct. A decision I regretted, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.

Most of the crew knew by now that I had found my K’sha. My activated mating marks were evident without me having to say anything.

I glanced at my biceps. The markings appeared brighter and more vivid after kissing Riley. Knowing I finally confessed to Riley that she was my K’sha, and she had welcomed me as her mate. It filled me with an overwhelming sense of joy.

Before heading to the command center, I had one more thing I had to do.

Now that we had spoken, and I had tasted my mate’s sweet kisses at long last, I did not want to make Riley unhappy by not allowing her to be part of the ship’s crew.

It was my duty as her mate to do whatever would make her happy. I had to trust that my K’sha would be safe aboard the Chetok even as a crew member.

With that thought, I made my way to engineering to speak to Aza.

The engineer and our best pilot saw me approach. He stood with his arms crossed and a slight grin. “Captain. What can I do for you?”

My earlier irritation vanished when we had spoken telepathically back in the training ring. He assured me he was not pursuing Riley. Stating his only reason for training with her was because she seemed lonely.

Which was entirely my fault.

It was my job to make certain she was no longer lonely. Riley was my priority, and I regretted not saying so earlier.

“What information do you have about Riley’s experiences as a warrior?” I asked, assuming the two would have spoken about such things.

Aza grunted. “I only know she was a patrol soldier, with a talent for computerized and mechanical tech. Why not ask her for more details? I’m sure she would gladly tell you.

I know she would like to work on the ship.

” His voice was not admonishing, but it was clear he thought I hadn’t handled things well regarding Riley.

He continued. “If she wants to apprentice in engineering, I would be happy to teach her. She is a quick learner.”

A growl rose up from deep inside me. Aza’s brows rose as he watched me. His hands went up. “I wanted to make the offer. That is all.”

He had already spent enough time with my mate. “I will speak with her,” I stated, before walking away.