Page 17 of Krin (The Protectorate Warriors Alien Fated Mates #3)

Riley

THE MOMENT THE DOOR to Krin’s meeting room closed, he flashed me another proud smile. “Great work out there.”

He gave me a tight hug, planted a quick kiss on my lips, then stepped back and gazed at me.

“How did it feel?”

His reaction left me momentarily breathless. In that moment, all I could sense was the electric energy flowing through me from his brief touch.

My brain didn’t want to work.

“Sorry. What?” I chewed my lip, noticing him glance at them before meeting my eyes again.

Krin stroked my cheek, giving me a heated gaze.

Every physical interaction with him was something I savored. I never imagined someone could desire me so much. Being around Krin made me feel capable and strong, not vulnerable or weak.

“You had your first run-in with the enemy, and you fought back.” His lips were pressed into a smile.

“Oh that. It was nothing,” I joked.

I paused before grinning from ear to ear, adding, “Okay. It felt amazing to get to kick Krilex butt at last.”

With a single step backward, a deep purr-like rumble emanated from his chest. I missed his closeness at once.

Krin put his hands to his hips, looking down at me thoughtfully.

“Now that you have spent most of the rotation on the bridge, do you know which position you will choose?”

I pushed my shoulders back. “Ship security.”

In a sudden gesture, his head flew back. A brief frown crossed his face before vanishing without a trace. “Is that so?”

I chuckled with relief. I’d expected him to be resistant to my choice.

“Yes. It’s what I did on Luna base. It feels like a good fit. I will be stationed on the ship.... So, I’ll be safe.”

Krin seemed to ponder my words and his face pinched. “Have you met Rothr? The security chief is not as laid back as crewmembers like Dril or Aza.”

One corner of my mouth curled as I scratched my head.

I wasn’t sure Krin would be okay with my choice to work on the bridge, let alone in security. His supportiveness surprised me.

“Uh. Yeah. I briefly met him. He wasn’t too keen about training a woman... I mean a female.” I rolled my eyes recalling Rothr’s gruffness towards me.

While Dril was teaching me about the helm, the security chief arrived unexpectedly.

When I asked about security positions on the ship, he introduced me to Rothr.

Despite being older than many of the warriors, the guy was just as intimidating as the rest of them.

Shame he appeared to wear a permanent scowl.

“Do you want me to have a word with him?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “No. That’s the last thing I need. I don’t want special treatment just because I am the Captain’s mate.”

Krin’s lips rose in the corners, and he gave me a quick nod. “If you change your mind, tell me.”

“Sure. Do you think the crew will accept a female working amongst them?” I asked.

“They will. I will make sure they welcome you.” He grimaced. “I am sorry that I am the reason they avoided you. I promise to make it up to you.”

“Yeah. Why did you do that, again?”

Krin ran a hand along his head, then the back of his neck, scratching at it self-consciously. “It was a foolish mistake. One which I will remedy.”

I placed a hand over the straps that crossed his chest. “Good. Because there is no reason to be jealous of anyone on the ship. You are the only one I think about.” The only one I want.

A joyful expression lit up Krin’s face as he listened to my unspoken words.

His cheeks took on a darker shade of blue-green and his eyes burned with a passionate glow. Krin swallowed, his throat bobbing up and down. “I am not jealous.”

Patting his arm, I teased. “Right. Keep telling yourself that.”

His eyes were laser focused on my face, more specifically, my lips.

As I brushed my tongue along my bottom lip, I caught a glimpse of his widened eyes. His response made the edges of my mouth turn up in a smile.

I lightly stroked his chest, moving even closer and inhaling deeply. My body reacted with no prompting from my brain.

Krin leaned closer, his lips meeting mine in a gentle kiss. Embracing him tightly, I eagerly kissed him, opening my mouth to deepen the connection. The way he kissed me made my head spin, and I was lost in the moment as our lips met.

Heat spread through my body, while I threaded my fingers through his hair, tugging at it. Krin’s hands slid down my back but before we could get further carried away, he pulled back.

I had to stop myself from begging him to have sex with me right there.

He chuckled. “Do you want something, my mate?” His voice teased.

“Just you.” I grinned.

Krin adjusted himself and cleared his throat. “We’ll get out of here soon. I just have to speak with Ezan first.”

I nodded and watched as he sent a telepathic message to his first officer. The Krilex attack had unsettled him more than he let on. When he finished, he gave me a serious look before speaking.

“The Krilex ship that fired at us has been spotted and apprehended. Captain Stusa is interrogating the Captain’s now.”

“That’s good.”

He shrugged. “It is. Though I would like to be the one asking them questions,” he muttered.

I ran my hand along his forearm. “Won’t Captain... Stusa? Won’t he fill you in? You are the King’s eyes and ears out here, right?”

Krin’s hand felt warm and comforting as he smoothed it across my head. “You make a valid point.”

The way he held my hand made me feel safe and protected. “Where were we?” he smirked.

“I think you were about to take me to bed, my sexy mate.” I leaned into him, kissing his bare chest.

A low purring sound echoed through Krin and he leaned in for a quick kiss before we headed out of his office.

As we walked down the corridor, I angled my head to gaze up at him. “Will you continue training me to fight like a Protectorate warrior?”

He chuckled, his hand brushing against my back. “Anything you want. Knowing how to protect yourself is important.”

“Can I be armed as well?” I asked, excited at being a soldier once again.

He angled his head peering at me. “You do not need to carry weapons when you are on the ship. Besides, more practice with the bladed weapons might be helpful before you carry a sword.”

I laughed. “They are kinda heavy. I was thinking of carrying something smaller, like a dagger?”

Some Protectorate daggers were as large as a short sword for humans. I would settle for something I could hide within my clothing.

“Yes. That is something you can do.”

I stopped walking and folded my arms, confident, and a little cocky. “Let’s talk uniforms. Should I dress like a Protectorate warrior now that I am one?” I dropped my hands to my hips, eyeing Krin for his reaction.

The Protectorate warriors on the Chetok were bare-chested, wearing only black pants and boots. Apart from the Captain, everyone wore a single chest strap that doubled as a sword sheath.

Krin’s position on the ship was indicated by two crisscrossing straps. I certainly didn’t plan on exposing my bare chest on a ship filled with fierce male warriors.

Looking down at me with uncertainty, the hunk couldn’t tell if I was teasing or not.

“No. The distraction would be too much for the crew,” he said, straight-faced.

“But not distracting for you?” I pouted, pretending to be offended.

Krin gave me a heated look as he hugged me, then stepped back to look down at me. “Always.”

My heart felt lighter around Krin. He was way more agreeable than I expected him to be. It felt good. Felt right.

“This is really happening? You are allowing me to work as part of the crew?” I couldn’t help the disbelief in my voice.

“You are my mate, Riley. I not only want you here with me. I want you to be happy. Now that I have claimed you and our bond is stronger, I cannot bear the thought of being away from you.”

Admiring his handsomeness, I raised an eyebrow while gazing back at him. Our relationship still seemed surreal. I had always felt like I didn’t belong anywhere. God knows I wasn’t even close to being good enough for anyone.

I’d accepted that was how things would be, and that I would be permanently alone. I struggled to believe that I deserved my new relationship with Krin.

He flashed me a sweet smile. “You are mine. And you are everything I could ever want. Do not doubt that.”

A swell of panic made my heart flutter. Krin went from hardly talking about his feelings to saying things I never thought I would hear.

“I hope my words do not make you uncomfortable?” He frowned.

“Did you just read my mind?” I asked.

He shook his head. “I did not need to. Your feelings are written all over your face. You are a gift, Riley. Anyone who was unable to see that did not deserve you.”

My cheeks warmed at his words.

“I’m glad we found one another,” I said, standing on tip-toe to give him a kiss on the cheek. “Don’t worry, I don’t plan on going anywhere.”

It was weird to have such a strong unspoken connection to Krin. Even though being his K’sha was still a new concept to me, I accepted it. It felt right.

Yet there were moments when it all felt unreal. Unwanted fears and doubts surfaced once in a while. Like what if he changed his mind about being with me? The idea of losing him made my heart clench.

Krin’s look melted into me as he gave a reassuring smile. “I am not going anywhere either.”

I assumed he could still sense my emotions, and I was fine with it. With knowledge of Alarans’ strong attachment to their K’sha, I understood that Krin becoming my mate was a life-changing event for both of us.

I couldn’t screw it up, and I prayed I wouldn’t.

Before I knew it, Krin had swept me off my feet and into his arms. A small yelp escaped me before I wrapped my arms around his neck, laughing softly.

“I want you so much, my K’sha. Allow me to prove it to you,” he expressed as he hurried down the hall, cradling me in his arms as if I were a bride.

I closed my eyes as I nestled my head into the nook of his neck, finding comfort in his familiar scent. My entire being adored every single thing about him.

How did I manage to be so lucky?