Page 122 of Tempting Cargo

Damn, it was good to see humans. I didn’t need it all the time, but it was good to be here.

She stepped back, glancing at the way Shohari’s arm returned to my waist, and her smile grew wider. “You’re not staying, are you?”

“Don’t sound so sad about it,” I teased.

“Oh, I am, a bit. But mostly I’m just happy for you.” She turned her smile on Shohari. “For both of you. Oh, is that new ink?” She gestured at my arms, and I straightened one out so she could see.

“Not quite.” Love swelled in my chest. “I got alien married.” I ran my eyes over the emerging mating marks—an echo of Shohari’s—which grew darker every day, the swirling lines sprawling round my existing tattoos. We hadn’t expected them,but a week ago we’d thought we were imagining things, and now they were as undeniable as our love for each other.

Fenn peered closer. “Are these like the shaa’ith kink tattoos?”

“The what?” Had I heard that right?

“Never mind,” they said, giving their half-smile. “Congratulations, both of you.”

Imani’s eyes slipped past us and settled on Airida.

I hid my grin. It wasn’t often she was this demonstrative, and I had a distinct sense they were all going to be okay.

Before long, Airida swayed, clinging to Shohari, and I went to support his other side.

Imani hadn’t taken her eyes off him. “Let’s get you to bed,” she said before Tokki and Daiytak could take charge.

The poor guy looked spent. I imagined he was both relieved to be at our final destination and held some apprehension about what lay ahead. Despite all of that, he seemed transfixed by our Imani. I’d definitely be keeping in close touch.

“Will we be staying in reasonable comms range for now?” I asked Shohari as we left the hut that was Airida’s new home.

“Yes.”

I saw her weariness in the ridges around her eyes, heard it in the slower, muted tones of her voice, but it wasn’t the ennui that had weighed her down before Orith. It was the well-earned tiredness of a job well done.

Mission complete.

All humans relocated. One brother rescued. One mother defeated.

And I’d found my home, too.

Shohari shoved my arm. “Stop that. I can see what you’re doing. Stop thinking you’ve fixed it and now you can move onto the next person you need to help.”

I mock-glared at her. “I can’t help it. What do I do now, though? You’re sorted. He’ll be sorted. My friends are sorted.” I pretended to think, even as I slid my hand round to squeeze the soft dip of her waist. “Who can I help now?”

She slapped my arse, the crack ringing out in the verdant twilight. “What about yourtaamhia kizathi, hmm?”

My mood to joke evaporated under the hot sting. “What do you have in mind?”

She nudged me with her hip and gave me a shy, tired smile. “I need you to snuggle me.”

Warmth flooded every part of me. “I can do that, sweetheart.”

I pulled my mate into my arms and kissed her. It was time to get back aboard theDorimisaand take off through the stars at her side.

EPILOGUE

MONTHS LATER

Shohari

“IS IT whatyou dreamed of?” I leaned against Garrison’s side, our arms around each other’s waists as we took in the view from the galley window.