“Give me a moment just to look at you. You are a vision, the perfect sight for a weary fighter.”
She rolled her eyes at me then.
“I am a weary fighter,” she said, her voice soft, yet filled with the snap of the arguing I used to find so damn aggravating. Now, it was perfect. I did not want a docile, simple-minded female. Who wanted simple when he could have fire?
“Weary, mate? Then I shall take you to bed and let you sleep.”
I would do no such thing, but I wanted to see what she’d say next. Bickering with her made my cock hard. No, doing anything with her made me ache for her.
“You can take me to bed, but I won’t let you sleep,” she countered.
“I didn’t realize you were the one to let me do anything. Who is the one in charge, mate?”
“I am.” She crossed her hands over her chest and I watched as the soft swells temptingly lifted over the low neckline.
“That’s right.” I walked to her then. Instead of stopping before her as it appeared she’d expected, I grabbed her and claimed her mouth. I needed to taste her, feel her hot and wild beneath my hands. She kissed me back, her body melting against mine in complete surrender.
But it wasn’t enough. I needed to be inside her, so I broke the kiss, leaned forward and tossed her over my shoulder.
“Nyko!” she cried, her hands pounding on my back. I barely felt it.
Turning, I returned to the house and a grinning Berina. “Where is our bed chamber?”
With a chuckle, Berina led me to the upper floor of the home, and pointed down the long hallway. “Last door on the right, Warlord.”
I walked directly to the bedroom, Berina’s happy laughter following us down the hall until I slammed the door behind me. I was hungry, but not for food.
I dropped Megan onto the large bed and watched as she bounced once and tried to come up onto her knees, but the long hem of her dress got in the way.
“Damn dress,” she grumbled.
“No, mate. You are perfect.”
My words made her still, look up at me.
“The dress. Where did you get it?”
I doubted it was just lying around at the Intelligence Core command base.
“Doctor Moor arranged for it to be here when I arrived.” She looked down at herself, pulled at the soft, gauzy material. The pale blue color made her dark skin almost glow. “I thought…”
I cocked my head. She seemed unsure of herself. Vulnerable.
“What?” I asked, intentionally speaking in a low voice, almost a whisper. “You thought what?”
“I thought you’d like it if I were more….”
I stepped to the edge of the bed, lifted her so she stood before me. For once, she was a few inches taller. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she didn’t stop me when I worked the garment up and over her head, dropped it onto the floor.
“You are Megan Simmons of Earth. My mate.” I glanced down at her perfect body, bare to me. “Gods help me if you become more anything than you already are.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I do not want you to be anything but what you are.” I slid a hand down her arm, felt the silky softness of her skin. “I do not care what you wear, mate.” I cleared my throat, tipped her chin up and called up every ounce of courage I possessed. I’d felt less vulnerable staring down a swarm of Hive soldiers than baring my soul to this woman. “I love you just the way you are. I love your sassy mouth and full, perfect lips. I love the dark softness of your skin and the way your eyes breathe fire when you’re challenged. I am proud to call you mine, mate. I love you. And I submitted your service record to the Atlan military training commander. He agreed. You are spectacular, and he offered you a job training the new recruits headed out to serve the Fleet. It’s yours if you want it.” I kissed her quickly on the shoulder, needing to adore her. “If not, we’ll find something else, love. Anything you want.”
Tears filled her eyes, welled over. I cupped her jaw and swiped them away with my thumbs. “I do not mean to make you sad. I’m trying to say—”
She put two fingers over my lips. “I know what you’re trying to say. I love you, too.” She stepped back. “I will be right back.” When I reached for her, she moved farther away and shook her head. “No. Please, I must get something. Stay right there.”