Page 97 of Tempting Cargo

My nostrils flared, but I accepted it for the truth it was, the retort in my throat unable to escape past my clenched jaw.

The elder female’s bitter tone spoke for both of us. “Tell me what you require.”

So be it.

I outlined the last piece of our plan and hoped to the gods she played her part.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Orbiting

Shohari

WE ORBITED Orkrithat night. It was too late in the Orithian day to go straight there, and I wanted to give Madame dai Yakri time to do as she’d assured me she would.

Time to catch my breath.

We could have docked with the pod we’d leave the ydouir at, but I didn’t want to be tethered. Not when there was a real chance I could be tethered to Orith permanently tomorrow.

When I entered the galley, Garrison was in deep discussion with Muzati and Coerril. Before they could notice me, I stopped in the doorway to watch.

His shoulders were slumped, but he spoke, and I thought I saw determination there. He snapped at something Coerril said, and I wanted to yank him away, stop her from upsetting him. As the females took over the conversation, he relaxed, a small smile gracing his lips.

Jealousy stabbed at me. He hadn’t acted quite as detached in the last few days, but I hadn’t seen this easy side of him either. Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.

Unless it didn’t go to plan, and then this evening was all we had.

I kept a steady pace as I entered the room. I wasn’t surprised to see him tense when he saw me, but it hurt all the same.

Then he looked at me,reallylooked, and gave me a slow, easy smile. “You all ready, sweetheart?”

I rocked on my heels. Ground my claws into the deck. Breathed in hissweetheartlike it was everything I needed.

He straightened, standing in a swift, decisive movement, and paced towards me. Without words, he pulled me to him and surrounded me with his arms.

I froze. This wasn’t real. Was it?

He nuzzled the side of my face, and I melted into him, biting back the howl that threatened to escape. All this time we could have had, and I’d squandered it.

Wrapped up in his gentle heat, I forgot every good reason for not doing this.

Garrison stroked my headspines, over and over, a tender, reassuring thing. “It’s okay, Sho. We’re nearly there now.”

When I opened my eyes, Orith glowered at me through the window. I didn’t want to see it.

My hands tightened around him, and I turned away, drank in the sight of my human instead. His brown eyes. All that skin on his cheeks. His small, delicious mouth.

“Careful, Shohari. When you look at me like that, I think you want to kiss me.”

I knew I looked pathetic, but I didn’t care. “When you look at me like that, I want to,mitsha.” I put my arms around his waist, hands resting on his lower back.

“But you won’t.” There was no judgement in his tone.

I sniffed a laugh and slid my hands under his shirt.Skyk it.“You’re not always right, human.”

A smile—a rich dawn shaping a darkened sky—lit Garrison’s face, and it was the brightest thing in the room. He rested his forehead against mine. “Prove it, kri’ith.”

His pronunciation was perfect. Why that, of all things, tipped the balance, I didn’t know. My cheek muscles stretched in their first real smile for what felt like a lifetime, and I brushed my lips over his in a whisper.