“I treated you as I would any other person, here on Trion, or on Earth. I hope that your life debt is not the only reason you now offer your friendship. I hope that any friendship be willingly given. I do not know very many women here on Trion and I will need friends that I can trust.”
Mara looked surprised by the words, but I understood. Eva needed those about her, the people who would care for her, to know who she really was. She did not want Mara to take a bended knee out of gratitude or debt. A small smile formed on Mara’s mouth, for once it seemed given without malice. “Yes, my lady, I would like that.”
“Then you must call me Eva.”
“Enough,” I said. “I assume, Councilor Bertok, that there is no need for another ceremonial fucking?” Since Eva was already carrying my child, the twisted old bastard would have to find his pleasure elsewhere.
The older man looked at the ground. “No, high councilor. There is no question she is the rightful lady consort.”
I nodded. “Good. As Doctor Rahm has cleared her from her transport, my mate and I will bid you farewell. Safe journey to all as you return to your homelands.”
Many of those gathered murmured replies, but I scooped Eva up into my arms and fled the group, practically running to my tent. Eva had returned, her belly filled with my child, and I wanted her all to myself. Forever.
* * *
“How did you return to me?” Tark asked as soon as he’d placed me on his bed. I grabbed his hand, pulling him down with me when he would have stepped back. I didn’t want space. I wanted to revel in the feel of him, the scent of him. I wanted… everything.
I’d spent weeks longing for him as I waited for Agent Davidson to finalize my transport. As he sat beside me, I told Tark everything about my time on Earth.
I shivered as I talked about the trial and how I’d felt staring into the eyes of a killer. I told him how lonely I’d been without him, and how they’d tried to give me a hollow shell of a life in witness protection. I described the details of my lonely and very empty apartment. I’d told him about Warden Egara’s seemingly endless list of questions as we’d waited for the DNA results to confirm my story.
I’d answered her honestly, especially when she’d asked me about my match with Tark. I wanted everyone to know that the bride program’s matching program really did work. I’d even agreed to film a small advertisement for the program before I left. Warden Egara was desperate to get more brides from Earth, preferably more volunteers, not criminals. She felt very strongly that the warriors protecting Earth deserved true happiness and worthy females as mates.
Looking at my mate, I felt completely happy with everything I’d said in that recording session, and I hoped some lucky Earth girl would take a chance on love on another world.
“Did you know about the baby when you… left?” He looked at my body as if I were a fragile piece of glass, perhaps worried that he’d hurt me or the baby.
“No. Only when they assessed me for transport.” I paused.
He tilted his head, then dropped to his knees before me.
“The first time, I let the matching program decide,” I told him. “This time, I named you, High Councilor Tark of Trion, as my permanent match. No trial period. No processing. You aren’t ever getting rid of me. This time, I claimed you, Tark. You’re mine forever.”
“Oh, Eva,” he groaned and pulled me in for a kiss. It was rough and desperate and full of heat and love and I needed all of it so, so badly.
“I missed you,” he murmured against my mouth. “Fark, it was like my heart was ripped out of my chest when you transported.”
“Time is different on Earth. While I was only here a few short days, it had been four months on Earth. Tark, we were apart for weeks.”
“It was just yesterday,” he said, thinking. “That was long enough.”
“It was torture.”
“Oh, gara. You’re here now and I swear I’ll never let you go.”
“About that ceremonial first fucking,” I said, biting my lip.
He arched one of his dark brows and smirked.
“Yes?”
“I think since I’ve left and come back, another may be in order.”
“You want me to call Goran in to witness? The council?”
I shook my head and came up onto my knees, grabbed the hem of my slip dress, and lifted it over my head.
A sound similar to a growl erupted from Tark’s chest. Instead of pouncing on me as I’d perhaps expected—I wanted to jump him—his hand came out and flicked over the gem on my left nipple.
“Your breasts are bigger. I would have learned the truth of your pregnancy just by looking at your body.”