I pushed now, leaning forward and taking her mouth once more, making sure she knew just how much I wanted her. I released my hold and slid my hands behind her back, pulling her body forward and higher on my thigh until we were pressed close and her stomach rubbed against my rock-hard erection. Her hands landed on my biceps, but she kissed me back, didn’t push me away.
A knock sounded on the door and I pulled away, reluctant to lose intimate contact with my mate. I held her to me, her much smaller frame safe in my arms. I tried to be gentle despite the beast raging at me to throw her down on the floor, shred her armor, and take what was mine. “Say yes, Sarah. Be mine.”
“You vow that you will help me find my brother if I say yes?” She flicked a finger against one of the cuffs, and they swayed beneath my hand.
“I do not lie. I would never lie to my mate. As you do not know this, or me, I offer you my vow.” I placed my right hand over my heart, the cuffs dangling between us. “I will help you whether you accept my claim or not.”
She looked at me for any kind of deception. There was none, for I would assist her, no matter her choice. If she refused me, I would simply go after her brother alone and save her from a coalition prison cell. I would perish, soon after. The beast within was close enough to taste. Without a mate, I would be destined for execution, but I would not force her decision. If I died, I would seek eternal rest on my own terms, with my honor intact.
If she said yes, if she placed my cuffs on her wrists, I had no choice but to go with her to find her brother, for not only had I given her my word, but once she put the cuffs about her wrists, we could not be apart, not until we were truly bonded.
Worse, if I betrayed her trust, she would never allow me to fuck her, let alone bond with her. Without it, I’d die.
She then, held all the power. We were both in a dilemma. We both needed the other. Each of us had a price that we were willing to pay. I would subject my mate to danger to find her brother. She would become my mate. Permanently. Based on the kiss, it would not be a hardship.
“Very well. I accept.”
I groaned then, low and deep. Hearing those words from her lips soothed the beast in a way not even the kiss had. It paced and nudged to escape, but hearing her agree to be my mate soothed it. Me. All of me.
I went to the door and opened it for the commander. I knew he hadn’t gone far. Not only was I a rogue ex-warrior who’d transported into a battle and ripped the Hive to pieces, but I was also the Atlan who wished to mate one of his top officers.
He entered and looked between the two of us.
“You can’t accept the warlord’s plan,” he said. He was a shrewd man, knowing exactly what I’d offered her and what it would cost him.
“I already have.”
“Captain, I have to question the wisdom of your decision,” the commander replied. “Be logical. Use that analytical mind of yours, Sarah. Your brother is gone. Don’t make this sacrifice when there is no hope of getting Seth back alive.”
“Seth’s still alive. I can feel it. I gave my word to my father. I can’t lose him, too. He’s all I have left. I’m sorry, Commander Karter, but I have to find him.” The last line was like a mantra falling from her lips. She tugged the bracers from her forearms and dropped them at her feet. Grabbing the cuffs, she pushed her shirt up to expose her forearms. Opening one then the other, she slipped the cuffs about her wrists. They sealed automatically and cinched securely about her delicate skin.
Flicking a gaze up at me, she tilted her chin then turned to the commander. “Now what?”
The commander sighed. “Captain Mills, you have donned the mating cuffs of an Atlan male, therefore effective immediately, you will be transferred to the Interstellar Bride Program. Your command position is relieved. You are no longer a member of the coalition fleet. You will hand over your ion pistol.”
With precision, she pulled the weapon from her hip and gave it to the Prillon. She did not seem to doubt her decision. In fact, the finality of it seemed to harden her resolve.
Commander Karter turned to me. “Well, I guess you got what you came for.” He ran a hand through his hair with a loud sigh. “Check in with Silva on the civilian deck. She’ll assign you temporary quarters.”
Sarah placed her hands on her hips. “We won’t be staying. We’ll transport immediately.”
The commander shook his head. “I’m afraid that’s impossible.”
“What? I promise you, once we transport to where the Hive took Seth, we’ll be out of your way.”
“There’s no more transport until thirteen hundred tomorrow, at the earliest.” When her mouth fell open in shock, he added, “Magnetic debris field is moving through. It’s too dangerous. The entire sector is shut down. No transport, no flights.”