Page 9 of Krin (The Protectorate Warriors Alien Fated Mates #3)

Looking back, I hadn’t really given him a chance to speak when we reached my room. After everything I’d been through in such a short amount of time, I was feeling vulnerable, and I simply yearned to be wanted.

A little voice in my head reminded me I still do.

“I remember you told me no, then you walked away. I assumed the attraction was only one-sided. It didn’t occur to me you wanted more than a fling.

” My mouth twisted. I never once considered the possibility of Krin wanting an actual relationship with me.

It was wrong to think that his intentions were purely sexual. My cheeks burned with embarrassment.

His gaze traveled down my body before returning to meet my eyes. “I wanted more than a onetime intimate encounter with you. You are my K’sha... Mine. Mating even once with you would bond us. I was not sure you would understand my need to claim you.”

A cough escaped me, followed by a quick clearing of my throat. “Uh. Yeah. I see that now.” When he said the word “mine,” his voice took on a lower, more intense tone. I couldn’t help but shiver with delight as a wave of joy washed over me.

A seductive grin spread across Krin’s face before he spoke again. “When I claim you, it will bond us forever.”

My mouth went dry. “When you cl-claim me?” I whispered. My core clenched with desperate need at the thought of him being inside me.

Krin’s eyes were filled with way too much emotion that I wasn’t sure I was ready to unpack. “Yes. If you will accept me as your mate.”

My mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. He had to know how much I wanted him. Especially after I practically threw myself at him.

“My God. Krin. I... I do want you... to be with you, I mean. All I wanted back on Alara was to leave the planet with you. I never cared about going to a colony.”

Krin cocked his head looking relieved. “It was a ruse?”

I nodded. My stomach fluttered as I stared at him.

A muscle in his jaw ticked as he narrowed his eyes in thought. “When you asked about joining the crew, it worried me you might not stay on the Chetok if I refused your wishes.”

My lips down-turned. “I’m sorry about that. The truth is, I like you. A lot. I want to stay even if you don’t let me become part of the crew.”

Krin smiled. “I want you here, with me. Will you be happy if you do not join the crew right away?”

This wasn’t how I anticipated our conversation unfolding. Sure, I wanted to help out on the ship. More than that, I wanted to see where these feelings for Krin would lead. It sounded like he was thinking about giving me a job. I’d take that as a win.

“Yes. Of course. I want to stay. As long as you are sure you don’t mind me being here,” I chirped.

“I have wanted nothing more.” His cheeks darkened and I could see the hot, blue-green warrior with kissable lips suddenly seemed shy.

My stomach flip-flopped.

I gaped at him. Krin just confessed he wanted me to stay on the ship! He admitted I am his K’sha!

He approached until there was hardly any space between us. The weight of his touch on my shoulder filled me with happiness at the contact. His hand then glided to the side of my neck, his thumb tenderly stroking my jaw.

I drank in his touch without a second thought. My body tingled again with arousal.

Krin leaned in, his hand moving to the nape of my neck, creating an intimate closeness between us.

“I want you... here with me... not in a human colony where I may never see you again. After our conversation on Alara, I was afraid to ask if you would remain on the ship with me. I wasn’t sure you would.”

“Just try to get rid of me,” I purred.

“Never,” he husked.

The intensity in our locked eyes held me captive, unable to look away. The air was thick with an undeniable sense of longing. Krin’s body heat enveloped me in a cozy warmth. With a gentle touch, he caressed my cheek, his thumb tracing the curve of my lower lip. His eyes glazed with lust.

Need pulsed through my entire body. His touch ignited a feeling of excitement in me that I had only fantasized about until now.

Krin’s lips pressed against mine in a passionate and intense kiss. My lips parted, and I wrapped my arms around his neck. He responded by devouring my mouth with deep sweeping strokes of his tongue.

I clung onto him tightly, savoring every bit of his irresistible flavor. His familiar scent was all around me as we moaned together in a seductive symphony.

As we continued to kiss, every touch sent electric currents through my body, making it impossible to focus on anything else.

The rapid thumping of Krin’s heart reverberated against me as he pressed closer. His sensual movements ignited an instinctual response within me, causing my hips to buck forward.

Krin’s impressive manhood pressed firmly against my midsection. A persistent reminder of the unquenched desire that pulsed through my veins. I ran my hands along his well-defined biceps, savoring the thrill of being close to him at last.

His bare skin was smooth and soft, like satin against tough steel. Heat radiated from his mating marks when my fingers brushed across them. A deep purr resonated through him at the contact.

At last, Krin broke the kiss and glanced at me. Our chests rose and fell together as he touched his forehead to mine. His lips formed a slow, satisfied grin as he lifted his head to meet my gaze.

I reluctantly released him and took a half step back.

Krin’s expression turned serious as he scrutinized my face. He bore a look of complete sincerity. “I know I have made a mess of things. Can you forgive me for not speaking with you sooner?” he confessed, his voice filled with regret.

I sighed contentedly, tilting my head to one side.

A big smile spread across my face. “After that kiss?” I ran my fingers over my swollen lips, savoring the pulsating sensation from our passionate kisses.

“I think I can do that. Can you forgive me for not being upfront about wanting to stay on the ship with you?”

Krin reached out and stroked my cheek once more. Sparks of pleasure danced along its path.

“I will always forgive you. But there is nothing to forgive in this case.”

My heart filled with joy. I blinked back tears that stung the backs of my eyelids. All the stress and isolation that had been weighing on me since boarding the ship disappeared.

We’d finally shared our feelings. The possibility of us being together now seemed more real. Finding myself in this situation with Krin was beyond anything I had ever imagined.

I raised my gaze to him once more. “You never told me why you were looking for me. I assumed it was to tell me it was time to leave because we reached the colony. I guess I was wrong.”

He cleared his throat. “I came to inform you we intercepted a Krilex ship that was leaving Novara with female captives.”

My eyes widened. “Oh. My god. Are they okay?”

“Yes. The Krilex did not manage to get far with them. We are returning them to the human settlement,” he reassured.

A whirlwind of memories from the time of my abduction until now raced through my mind. Thankful, I expressed my gratitude to whatever divine being sent Krin to save me. “It’s a good thing I don’t want to be dropped off at the colony.”

Krin’s lips pursed. “I would not have let you leave.”

Not content to leave things alone for now, I spoke.

“You asked if I would be happy if I didn’t join the crew right away.

Does that mean you will consider allowing me to join the crew at some point?

” Of course, I wanted to be with Krin, and I wanted to remain on the ship.

I just wasn’t sure that in the long term I would be fulfilled if I didn’t have a job to do.

Instead of being upset or annoyed, Krin grimaced before speaking.

“Yes. I need time to adjust to the idea. Riley, it’s important for you to grasp that working in space is different from working on your planet’s Moon.

Protectorate ships offer a very different experience.

There are many dangers out here. You may be able to look after yourself, but if anything were to happen to you.

..” he ran his hands through his short hair as his voice tapered off.

His reluctance to let me work on the Chetok made sense to me at last. He wasn’t refusing to give me a job because he thought me weak or incapable. It was Krin’s need to protect me as his mate, that stopped him. I understood there would be more danger out here. That was to be expected.

However, I was determined not to be held back by fear. The mere idea of something happening to Krin made my stomach churn with anxiety. It wasn’t something I ever wanted to face either, so I understood.

“Look, I’m not asking to go out there and fight aliens ten times larger than me. I’m just asking for something to do on the ship. Somewhere that fits my work experience.”

A tiny, relieved smile graced his lips. “Do you have any idea what you would like to do?”

I shrugged. “Not really. I mean, I am good with infiltration, and accessing technology.”

Krin chuckled. “I know.”

My cheeks burned. “Yeah. Sorry about that.”

He waved it off. “No harm done.”

I bit my lip before quickly adding, “I’d like to know more about the positions available on the Chetok. Ones that keep me strictly on the ship of course.”

He grinned. “Of course.”