In fact, I was. Nothing made my cock harder than hearing her lust-filled cries, her loss of control, a gift she gave to me. Only to me.
“You are beautiful, mate.”
Her cheeks blushed pink and I held her gaze, willed her to see and understand my commitment to her, to us.
“Thank you. You’re not so bad yourself.”
I looked as I always did, my uniform dress black instead of work brown. “I am nothing special, Lexi. And without you, I am nothing.”
“You are so dramatic.” Lexi’s dark eyes softened at my words and she melted into me as I swirled her slowly around the dance floor. “So, I guess you better keep me around.”
“I intend to stay by your side forever.” I lowered my head and brushed my lips along her cheek. “Even if I have to beg for the right.”
Lexi lifted her arms to wrap both around my neck in a strange but not unwelcome movement. This new position pushed the tops of her ripe breasts up and placed them on display. Her delicate fingers twined together in my hair, tugging gently and my entire body went on high alert at the subtle, very feminine claim. “You can’t be real.” Her gaze dropped from mine and scanned the elaborate decorations, the beautiful gowns on the other women and the dangling lights. “None of this can be real.”
Hands on her waist, I lowered my forehead until it touched hers. “That is exactly how I feel about you.”
Her soft sigh melted the last bit of tension in my body that remained from the day’s mission. We’d been sent on an emergency transport into Sector 17, under Commander Grigg Zakar, where the mates and children of several Prillon warriors had been taken captive by Hive Scouts aboard a civilian transport vessel.
They couldn’t send in the Atlans, the beasts were too volatile for such a mission. And the nearest human recon team was busy on another op. There had been no time to waste, and no better Hunters to send to retrieve them.
I was the best. Me. Bryn. Our team. We were fast, efficient and deadly. Hive rescue missions had become something of a specialty and we all welcomed the challenge. Keeping the peace and hunting down petty criminals on Everis kept us from death by boredom, but was not enough to satisfy our Hunter blood. We were Hunters. We needed to hunt.
I had served my time in the war, was officially no longer a member of the Coalition Fleet, but I was a Hunter first and always. Bryn and the rest of the men who’d served with me all felt the same. When they needed us, we answered the call. No question.
Although, for the first time, I had hated to leave Everis behind. The adrenaline that spiked in my blood had been unwelcome and tasted shockingly similar to fear.
For the first time on one of these missions I’d had something to lose.
Lexi. With her soft scent and luscious curves, her shy smile and gentle nature. Passionate and trusting, intelligent and kind. She was everything to me now. Risking my life meant something, not because I cared whether I lived or died, but because I cared about leaving her.
The music ended and I took my mate by the hand, gently leading her to a long table set with sweet treats and refreshment. Away from the dance floor, the lights shone a bit more brightly, making every part of her golden dress shimmer and sparkle as if she were a creature of fantasy and magic, not flesh and blood.
By the divine, I could not take my eyes off her.
“I missed you today.” Her whispered confession made my heart lurch. Could it be true? Had my absence affected her as it did me?
“I’m sorry, mate. I was called away on an urgent mission. The Coalition Fleet requested a Hunter Unit. They only do so when there is an extreme emergency.”
She stopped walking and tugged on my hand to cease my movement as well. She was so small that I could have tossed her aside like a feather. But the slightest touch of her hand stayed me and I knew it would always be this way.
“What did they need you to do?” Worry clouded her gaze and I wanted nothing more than to kiss it away, but I didn’t dare. If I took her lips, I would not be able to stop. And I did not want to share her fire with anyone. Her kisses were for me and me alone.
“The Hive boarded a civilian vessel and took the mates and children of several Prillon warriors captive. They needed a rescue unit.”
“But, how is that possible? The Officiates said the Hive hadn’t been close to Everis in over a hundred years.”
“Don’t worry, mate. They were nowhere near. We transported to Sector 17 for the mission.”
She blinked more than once as my words sank in. “So, while I was eating breakfast with my friends this morning, you were transporting halfway across the universe and saving a bunch of women and children from the Hive?”